By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
A 10-0 run in the fourth quarter let Real Madrid beat Fenerbahce 80-73 in a ‘do or die’ match to retain its hopes to qualify to the next phase. Τhis was the third win for the hosts (3-5), whereas the visitors, who have already qualified to top-16, suffered their second defeat (6-2).
For the winners, Sergio Llull scored 17 points, with Gustavo Ayon and Felipe Reyes adding 15 and 13, respectively. On the other hand, Jan Vesely had 20 points and seven rebounds for the losing squad, as Bobby Dixon scored 15 points.
In the beginning, no team could take a significant advantage (5-7, 11-12), but Fenerbahce quickly took control of the game. The visitors made a 7-16 run and earned a double-digit advantage at the end of the first quarter (18-28). However, the hosts brought things upside down and took a four-point lead (32-28), with a 14-0 run. But, the Turks enhanced their performance on both ends of the floor and closed the first half in front by nine (36-45), behind a 4-17 run.
In the second half, the Whites tried to reverse the situation. They made a 12-5 run and cut the deficit to two points (48-50), with Zeljco Obradovic’s team remaining solid and retaining their lead (48-55). Real Madrid, though, made an 8-0 run and took an one-point advantage, after 30 minutes in the game (56-55). Pablo Laso’s team extended its lead to six points (61-55), but Fenerbahce fought back and tied the game, with Bobby Dixon’s three-pointer (66-66), behind a 5-11 run. At this point, though, the Madrid squad exploded, made a 10-0 run and took a double-digit advantage (76-66), with 90 seconds to go. The Turks couldn’t make a big come-back and, consequently, the Whites claimed a big victory and retained their hopes to qualify to the next phase.