By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The final score was 80-77 as the two teams are now one win apart. Fenerbahce dropped to 17-11 and the winners climbed to 16-12, good enough for a spot in the post-season.
Bryant Dunston with 14 points and Jayson Granger with 13 led the charge for the winners. Playing without injured Kostas Sloukas and Gigi Datome, Fenerbahce had a serious lack of scoring and creation, while Bogdan Bogdanovic who returned from injury was used in the second half, scored 16 points, but couldn’t save the day.
The hosts controlled the first half, having a 21-14 advantage at the end of the first period, leading by 13 (40-27) and going to the locker rooms with the score being 44-35. Bobby Dixon with 14 points and Melih Mahmutoglu with 10 did their best for Fenerbahce, which had the same number on assists (8) and turnovers (8). On the other hand Dunston was the focal point of the well oiled Efes‘ offense, scoring 10 points in the first 20 minutes.
The hosts led by 17 points (63-46), the third period ended with Fenerbahce trailing by 11 points (65-54). And then everything changed. Fenerbahce started the last period with a 9-2 run and made it a six points game (67-63). Even the blooper of the year, Pero Antic’s punch by mistake, couldn’t stop the momentum of coach Obradovic‘s team, which managed to get into stricking distance.
Fenerbahce kept the pressure and in the end could have send the game to overtime. However Dixon, who had in total 19 points, missed the crucial last three.