By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Kevin Punter scored a game-high 18 points and dropped back-to-back go-ahead jumpers in the final 27 seconds including the game-winner, as Partizan Belgrade came back from down 11 to beat Joventut Badalona 68 – 67 and improve its undefeated streak in all competitions to 9-0.
Punter drained the jump shot for the 66 – 65 and after Pau Ribas answered with the same currency, he also hit another to put Partizan up 68 – 67 with four seconds to play. On the other end, the American guard leaped in front of 7-footer Ante Tomic to block a lob, forcing a turnover and basically securing Partizan’s win.
Badalona was up 43 – 54 with two minutes to play in the third period and despite being scoreless in the first five minutes of the fourth, it managed to retain a lead. The Spanish side led 57 – 63 with 4:24 to play but a 3-pointer by Alen Smaigalic and a basket by Zach LeDay brought Partizan at a shooting distance.
Punter then took over, scoring multiple baskets to lift Partizan to win.
Joel Parra dropped 15 points for Badalona while Derek Willis scored 11 and Tomic had 10 points plus eight rebounds. Apart from Punter, LeDay finished with 13 points plus eight rebounds for Partizan.
Three other games were held Tuesday (2/11) for Group A. Turk Telekom launched the action by beating Slask Wroclaw 89 – 73 behind 25 points by Aaron Harrison plus the 16 points and nine rebounds courtesy of JaJuan Johnson.
In Hamburg, Drew Crawford scored 21 points and seven rebounds to lead Morabanc Andorra to a 97 – 91 away win over the local Towers.
Lietkabelis shut down Dolomiti Energia Trento 77 – 61 on the road. Panos Kalaitzakis (twin brother of Milwaukee Bucks forward George Kalaitzakis) had 20 points on 4-5 triples to lead the winning side.