By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Six players scored in double figures as Gran Canaria defeated Boulogne Metropolitans 92 84 – 74 on the road to get a 1-0 advantage in the quarterfinal series. The Spanish side needs one morevictory, this time at home, to advance to the EuroCup semifinals, while Boulogne has to win in the road to bring the best-of-three series back in France.
Sean Kilpatrick led the charge for Gran Canaria with 17 points. Javier Beiran (15 points, five rebounds)Matthew Costello (11 points, seven rebounds) and AJ Slaughter (11 points, five assists), were also key parts of the puzzle for the Spanish side.
David Michineau had 15 points, Vitalis Chikoko scored 13 and Tomer Ginat finished with 12 points and six boards for Boulogne. The hosts suffered a 0 – 8 run when they went up 20 – 19 and trailed ever since, never being able to tie the score. Gran Canaria established its foothold in the second half and often led with a double-digit lead to keep its opponents at a distance.