By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Two 3-pointers by Nick Calathes (9 points) and Kostas Sloukas (12 points, 5 rebounds) gave Greece a five-point advantege (71-66) in the mid of the extra period and that proved to be more than enough for a final 73 – 70 victory over a Marco Bellinelli-less Italian team that is still winless in the tournament.
George Printezis led the hosts with 19 points, the same number that Italy’s Daniel Hackett dropped on his opponents.
Christian Charles Burns had forced the extra period with a tip-in basket after his squad had chewed a 10-point deficit (59 – 49 with 6:30 remaining) to come back in the game. Greece had managed to gain that lead through scoring options after primary or secondary transition attacks that boosted their problematic, until that point, offense.
Burns’ teammates had an opportunity to finish the game within the 40 minutes but Hackett’s shot on the buzzer went off target.