By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Setting the lead over 20 points in the first half, Rytas Vilnius survived numerous scares to defeat Bahcesehir Koleji, 95-88, in Jeep Arena Tuesday.
Coming in carrying a league-high seven outings with over 20 points in the 2022-23 edition of the Basketball Champions League and falling to Joe Ragland in the race for January MVP, Marcus Foster recorded 15 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to seal the deal for the Vilnius outfit in Gameday 2 of the Round of 16. The explosive guard made 10/17 from the field, including 5/8 from beyond the arc.
Gytis Radzevicius and Martynas Echodas chipped in 11 points each for the fourth consecutive home win in the BCL. Injured Lukas Uleckas sat out for the team coached by Giedrius Zibenas.
The reigning champions of Lithuania’s Betsafe LKL, currently ranked second in the domestic league behind a 12-4 record, went up to 1-1 in Group J of the Champions League’s Round of 16. Erhan Ernak’s side fell to 0-2 with a fourth straight loss between the BCL and Turkey’s BSL.
Last season’s FIBA Europe Cup champions, the Red Dragons nearly came all the way back from a 22-point deficit falling narrowly short of shooting distance in stretches of the second half. Experienced forward, another candidate for the January MVP award, Jerry Boutsiele stood out with a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double highlighting the trip to Lithuania. Recovering from a knee injury, Kartal Ozmizrak remained sidelined.
Postgame press conference
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League