By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Bahcesehir College Istanbul has set their sight high, and former EuroCup champions Gran Canaria simply couldn’t follow them.
After leading almost from wire to wire, the host team got the 74-66 win and drew first blood in the best-of-three semifinals of the BKT EuroCup.
Marko Simonovic had 20 points, including crucial plays down the stretch, and Axel Bouteille (photo) finished the game with 15, all in the first half.
The hosts led 27-21 after the first quarter, were up by double digits at halftime (49-37), and pushed their lead to 18 points (56-38) at the start of the second half.
Gran Canaria tried to react, but Bahcesehir couldn’t be denied leading by 10 (62-52) entering the last period.
The guests opened the fourth quarter with a 7-2 run, making it a five-point game (64-59). Simonovic answered with four points (68-59), and Gran Canaria couldn’t get close again.
The losing side led 15-12 for the last time after four minutes of action in the game and then couldn’t get back into it. Mike Tobey, with 14 points, and Joe Thomasson with 12 were the top scorers of the Spanish side.
Photo credit: EuroCup