By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After dropping the first game of the Basketball Champions League Round of 16, JDA Dijon bounced back with the 78-66 victory versus error-prone Hapoel U-NET Holon Tuesday night.
Wichita State alumnus Rashard Kelly posted his fourth double-double of the BCL season behind 20 points and ten rebounds to go along with three steals en route to a game-high 31 efficiency rating. Detroit-born Chase Simon added 15 points and La Jeanne leader David Holston combined 15 points with nine assists and five steals. Khadeen Carrington threw in 13 more points, all in the second half. Injured Joshiko Saibou remained out.
Sixteen steals overall for the players guided by Nenad Markovic and 24 points off Holon’s 24 turnovers. The lead stretched into double-digits in the fourth quarter as the hosts managed to improve their Group I record to 1-1 after falling to 9-8 in France’s Betclic Elite LNB Pro A on Saturday.
Adam Smith put up a team-high 19 points for the visitors forced down to 0-1 with the loss in the Gameday 2 fixture. Experienced guard Joe Ragland tallied 13 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. Steve Zack had 11 points for the team coached by Guy Goodes, currently 8-6 in Israel’s Winner League.
The visitors went up eight points in the first half but paid the ultimate price for the turnovers committed at Dijon’s Palais des Sports Jean-Michel Geoffroy. Newcomer Tyrus McGee was not available and Niz Mizgav exited with an ankle injury midway through the third quarter.
Postgame press conference:
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League