By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Virtus Bologna managed to win for the first time this season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. And they did it in Round 5, on the road against Partizan just by one point (70-69).
For Virtus, Will Clyburn had his best game yet with his new team with 27 points, including the winning shot, Isaia Cordinier added 12 with 10 rebounds and Matt Morgan had 10.
“It’s the first win of the season, we got it here in this special atmosphere, so maybe this is what we needed to find us”, Cordinier said.
On the losing side, Tyrique Jones with 20 points was a force in the paint, Iffe Lundberg scored 14 points, but also missed the most crucial shot of the game, and Vanja Marinkovic added 10 points.
“I am just happy we got the win, I think I was winless in this building, that’s what matters”, said Clyburn.
A crazy – and sloppy – ending
The first half was relatively balanced with Partizan having a five points lead at the end of both periods (20-15, 37-32),
On the other hand, while Virtus managed to tie the score (27-27), they never got the lead. Clyburn with 14 points kept his team competitive, however, both opponents struggled from long range.
With the first play of the second half, a goal foul by Lundberg, Partizan was up by eight (40-32) and a bit later by nine (52-43).
However, Virtus with Clyburn again taking charge made it a one-point game (56-55) and Partizan closed the period leading by four (61-57).
With Toko Shengelia’s first three of the season, Virtus trimmed the lead to one again (65-64), and with two free throws by Cordinier, the Italians finally got the lead for the first time (66-65) with less than four minutes left.
The game was the definition of a dogfight and Lundberg with a big three gave Partizan the lead back (68-66). Clyburn tied the score at 68 and Lundberg put Partizan up again with one free throw (69-68) just 68 seconds before the final buzzer.
Virtus and Partizan couldn’t score on the next possessions, and Clyburn gave Virtus the lead once more (70-69). The home side had the ball and a 12-second offense, but Lundberg couldn’t score, and Virtus got the ball.
Daniel Hackett tried to inbound five seconds before the end, Frank Ntilikina stole the ball and shot a three, but he missed…
Photo credit: EuroLeague