By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Two halves, two different stories. That’s pretty much what took place in Kazan where Unics downed Levallois Metropolitans 76 – 68 thanks to a rock-solid defensive second half.
After trailing 34 – 46 at halftime, Dimitris Priftis’ players outscored their opponents 23 – 6 in the third period and forced them to a total of 22 after the break, to remain perfect, 2/2.
The playmaking brilliance of Quino Colom (15 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds) and his connections with Stephan Lasme (17 points) along with Jamar Smith (18 points) shined for Unics.
Klemen Prepelic had 21 points (17 in the first half for Levallois. Boris Diaw, who remains winless with his new team, couldn’t connect with the basket but contributed elsewhere, finishing with 1 points (0/4 f.g., 1/2 from the line), 9 rebounds plus 6 assists in 30:46.
In Istanbul, Darussafaka doubled its victories by edging Cedevita 85 – 83 thanks to Jajuan Johnson igniting during the last stretch.
The American center scored 15 out of his 20 points in the last five minutes to push back the Croatian team. Before his eruption, Scottie Wilbekin kept his team above the water with a game-high 23 points plus 5 assists.
Cedevita fought hard and could have escaped with a roadkill. Kevin Murphy had 17 points, Will Cherry 15 while draft prospect Dzanan Musa scored 13 (3/6 3s) and grabbed 5 rebounds.
Torino once again showed that it’s a force to be reckoned with in EuroCup. With five players scoring in double figures, the Italian team defeated Andorra 92 – 86 making the 2/2 in the Group.
Lamar Patterson scored a team-high 19 points while Trevor Mbakwe posted a double/double of 11 points plus 15 rebounds. Jaka Blazic had 22 points and 7 rebounds for the Spaniards.
EuroCup 2017-2018 Group A Standings
| GROUP A | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
FIAT TORINO
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
178 – 169
|
9
|
||
|
2
|
UNICS KAZAN
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
152 – 136
|
16
|
||
|
3
|
DARUSSAFAKA BASKETBOL
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
154 – 147
|
7
|
||
|
4
|
PARIS LEVALLOIS
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
132 – 145
|
-13
|
||
|
5
|
MORABANC ANDORRA
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
154 – 168
|
-14
|
||
|
6
|
KK CEDEVITA
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
166 – 171
|
-5
|
||