By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Cory Higgins scored 22 points, including a key basket in the last minutes, as Barcelona overcame a fantastic Dario Brizuela (career-high 33 points) and Unicaja Malaga 103 – 93 in overtime to complete the Copa del Rey semifinals bracket.
Higgins drained the mid-range jumper for the 98 – 93 with 44 seconds to play and after Nikola Mirotic’s 2-2 free throws. In the next play, Brizuela was called with an offensive foul on Higgins and then a technical foul after protesting the refs’ decision. Malaga coach Fotis Katsikaris was also ejected at that moment with two technical fouls.
Tim Abromaitis was the enough to force the overtime by beating Brandon Davies’ defense and scoring a tough basket with less than a second left in regulation. Malaga was down by six in the mid of the fourth period following a comeback by Barcelona that took its first lead in the final quarter after trailing for nearly the whole game.
The Blaugrana went down 9 – 29 in the first period but reacted to close halftime at 39 – 44. Malaga retained a lead until their opponents had a 11 – 0 run in the beginning of the fourth quarter to transform a 62 – 68 deficit to a 73 – 68 advantage.
Nick Calathes was instrumental in Barca’s comeback efforts with 17 points, five rebounds and five assists. Mirotic added 16 points while making a 3-pointer for the 87 – 83 with 43 seconds to play in regulation. He then had 1-2 from the line, something which gave Malaga the opportunity to look for a 2-pointer to send the game to extra period.
Ruben Guerrero had 10 points and five assists and Adam Waczynski dropped 10 points as well.
After the game, Katsikaris commented on the last play of regulation, saying that Abromaitis was fouled by Davies while scoring the game-tying basket.
“We got Tim’s last shot, which was a foul,” Katsikaris said. “Very clear. You can see it on TV, you see it in the photos that Davies grabs his jersey and there the game is decided. We’re going into overtime and, well… They owe us a free throw.”
Photo: ACB