By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Ballooning the lead over 20 points, Promitheas held on down the stretch to jump in front of Le Mans in the best-of-three Play-In series of the Basketball Champions League.
The team based in Patras prevailed, 78-68, in Game 1 on Wednesday.
Hunter Hale finished with 25 points in Antares. The explosive shooting guard made 10/15 field goals, including a clutch three-pointer to snap a series of errors on both ends of the court. Cameron Reynolds threw in 13 more points. Additional double-digit scoring efforts were made by Anthony Cowan Jr. and Jamal Jones packing ten points apiece. Colombian Jaime Echenique went for seven points, six rebounds, and two assists.
Determined to join fellow Greek club AEK Betsson and UCAM Murcia in Group L of the Round of 16, the lead for the team coached by Ilias Papatheodorou peaked at 22 points. Despite the advantage at the range of 20 points early in the fourth quarter, the final minute featured MSB at shooting distance. Holding on and eventually restoring a double-digit cushion shaped the largest final margin in a BCL game on the road.
For Le Mans, Cameroonian Williams Narace combining 17 points and 13 rebounds made his first double-double in the Champions League. Trevor Hudgins ended up with 14 points.
Besides facing elimination next week, the team guided by Elric Delord sits at 8-10 in France’s Betclic Elite. Promitheas carries an 8-4 record in Greece’s Stoiximan Basket League.
Postgame press conference
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League