By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Completing the sweep of the best-of-three series, AEK edged Tofas Bursa, 85-82, Tuesday night.
After mishandling a double-digit lead, the lasting BCL originals got back control with Janis Strelnieks tucking in the go-ahead three-pointer with 55 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The Bursa outfit knotted Game 2 of the Basketball Champions League Play-Ins at 78-78 with 1:11 on the clock.
The veteran Latvian guard produced seven of his 17 points in the fourth period. A dominant figure for earlier large stretches, Akil Mitchell went for 21 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, and one block.
Kenny Williams packing 16 points and Isaiah Miles with 13 points were additional heavy hitters for the team coached by Ilias Kantzouris at Tofas Arena. Injured players Antonis Koniaris, Andreas Petropoulos, and Cameron McGriff were not available in Bursa, Turkey.
On to the Round of 16 with one more game behind closed doors left included in the sanctions imposed about one ago, the Queen will compete in Group K of the Round of 16 alongside directly qualified clubs Galatasaray Nef and Unicaja. Domestically, the Athens outfit sits 6-5 in Greece’s Basket League.
As for the team coached by Greek tactician and former AEK assistant Dimitris Priftis, it will focus on moving up in Turkey’s BSL by improving the current W-L tally of 6-8.
Rob Gray recorded half of his 18 points in the fourth period but was not enough for the comeback down the stretch. Tyler Ennis got ten of his 17 points until fouling out late in the game. Berk Ugurlu finished the Champions League campaign with 12 points and nine assists.
Postgame press conference:
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League