By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
In a match that wont go down in the history books for the quality of basketball that was performed, Monaco was better in the important endgame details and defeated Villeurbanne 67 – 61, tying the semifinal series 1-1.
Both teams were incredibly close in the fourth quarter and everything was ultimately decided in the last minute. With Asvel ahead in the score 59 – 61, 45 seconds before the final buzzer, Sergii Gladyr sank a huge three-pointer giving his team the lead for the first time in the last period.
Jamal Shuler then made it 64 – 61 and Villeurbanne failed to answer, as Aaron Cel “wrote” the final score on the boxscore from the free throw line.
Even though once again the Monegasques displayed poor shooting (33.3%) they made less turnovers than their opponents and won the battle of possessions. Shuler finished the game with 16 points, but also 5/16 shots, while D.J. Cooper dropped 14 of his own.
As in the first semifinal, Charles Kahudi was the top performer for Villeurbanne with 11 points and 7 rebounds and veteran David Andersen added 12.