By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan prevailed over FC Barcelona Lassa with 78-74. For the Italians, this marks their first win in the competition this season (1-3), while the opposing side now fell to the same record.
The star: Jordan Theodore was unstoppable in the second half and finished the game with 19 points and 7 assists.
The first period was tight for both sides, with Barcelona grabbing a small 14-10 lead at 4′. The hosts kept the pressure on the Spanish team yet Adrien Moerman gave the visitors a 22-17 advantage after 10 minutes.
Despite grabbing a 34-19 lead in the middle of the second period, Barcelona had to fight back Milano‘s outbreak, as the deficit was trimmed to 7 points (37-33), then a little later on, Theodore tied the score to 39 points a few seconds before halftime.
Τhomas Heurtel pushed Barcelona’s lead to 4 points again (50-46), then Mantas Kalnietis played a key role to push the home side with 54-53 after 30 minutes. The Lithuanian guard managed to turn the momentum of the game in Milano’s favor.
Turning point: Theodore striked in the middle of the final period, as the home side kept a five-point advantage at 35′. Pau Ribas tried for one more comeback for the Catalan side, yet a pair of free throws by Mantas Kalnietis sealed the fate of the game.