By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Bauru of Brazil with a miracle comeback managed to edged Real Madrid (91-90) in the first game of the Intercontinental cup. The Euroleague champions led with 17 points in the third, but the hosts smiled at the end.
The reigning FIBA Liga de las Americas hit 16 three-pointers. Madrid seemed to take control with a strong finish to the second quarter, and its own three-point blitz by Jaycee Carroll, Sergio Llull and Rudy Fernandez to start the third. Euroleague champs overall put together a 5-27 run that opened 32-49 lead. However, Bauru hit its five consecutive three-point attempts in the third quarter, rallying behind a former Real Madrid center Rafael Hettsheimer.
In a fourth quarter shoot-out, Bauru nailed seven more three-pointers, and won the game on layup by Ricardo Fischer with 4.4 seconds left. Llull paced Madrid with 19 points and 6 assists. Carroll scored 17 and Fernandez had 14 with 6 rebounds.
Trey Thompkins added 12, while Gustavo Ayon and Sergio Rodriguez each scored 11 for Madrid which shot 10 of 21 from long range. Bauru’s Hettsheimer finished with 27 points on 6 of 9 from behind the arc. Leo Meindl netted 15, former Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv shooting guard Alex Garcia had 12 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds, while Fischer also had 12 points and 8 assists in victory. Game 2 will be Sunday.