By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Will Clyburn’s heroics led CSKA Moscow to a tough 78-77 victory in overtime over Fenerbahce Beko in Round 3 of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague to improve to a 2-1 record into the new season.
Clyburn sent the game to overtime with a crucial shot that evened the score at 69 points with 16 seconds left in the game and rose to the occasion in the extra five-minute period, exiting the game with 26 points, six rebounds, and two assists for an overall PIR of 27.
Mike James had 14 points, six assists and five rebounds for CSKA, as Johannes Voigtmann (who was a game-time decision) had 8 points.
“We had a tough character. Of course, the way the game went, it could have gone either way and if Fenerbahce had won, it would also be fair enough. It was a close game, but I think we gave our fight, we trusted our defenses even though we turned the ball over too much. Definitely the character of my players [made the difference], so I congratulate each and everyone”, said coach Dimitris Itoudis after the game.
Nando De Colo posted 21 points along with six rebounds, though he was called with a technical foul with a little over a minute remaining in the game as James went to the free-throw line but missed both. The momentum shifted toward’s CSKA favor at that point and would extend in the overtime.
Jarell Eddie had 18 points and four boards in this nerve-wracking 45-minute battle, while Lorenzo Brown tried to save the day late in the overtime and finished the game with 16 points and 8 assists for Igor Kokoskov’s squad.
This marks Fenerbahce’s first defeat into the new season and will look to bounce back Friday against FC Bayern Munich.
And Fenerbahce coach Igor Kokoskov didn’t hide his disappointment after his first EuroLeague defeat: “It is a long night for all of us. When you lose the game, it is always tough. When you lose by 20 or by 1, it is always a bitter taste in the mouth. That’s how we feel tonight leaving this arena at midnight. We don’t feel good about this game. I think we had a chance. I mean, I have to congratulate CSKA. They played well, but I think we deserved to win this game. If we won this game, it wouldn’t be… it would be the right thing. We shouldn’t be in overtime, we should have closed the game and play smart in crunch time and finish the game in regulation.”
Photo: CSKA Moscow