By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Baskonia defeated Bayern Munich 80 – 71 on the road to improve its EuroLeague record to 11 – 16 and retain the few mathematical chances it has for qualification to the playoffs. Something that it’s far from the case for Bayern that is now at the second to last spot in the standings, at 8 – 19.
Micheal Eric scored a season-high 16 points in 17 minutes for Baskojnia. Zoran Dragic finished with 13 points and Tornike Shengelia added 11 points, a team-high five assists plus four boards.
“We just had positive energy. We’ve been trying to overcome a down season that we have been having. That first half gave us a little energy to think that we can win. We came into the second half with positive energy,” Eric said.
Greg Monroe was Bayern Munich’s top contributor with 18 points and six rebounds. Maodo Lo dropped 16 points.
Baskonia assumed control thanks to a 0 – 10 run that spanned in three minutes over the third and the fourth period. The visiting side preserved a small, yet steady advantage that guided them to the victory.
Bayern had led 28 – 21 early in the second period until Bayern increased pressure on the defensive end to close halftime up 41 – 44.
Room for improvement
Baskonia still has a lot of room to cover in order to increase the possibilities of advancing to the postseason. That’s why coach Dusko Ivanovic wants to see some improvements.
“I have many things I want to tell my team. We need to improve many things,” Ivanovic said. “I don’t have time to say all of them tonight. That will be for tomorrow. We played well with small ball at the end of the third quarter and the final quarter, we played faster and a little more impressive. But this is really a team win.”
Photo: EuroLeague Basketball