By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Down to 0-3 in Group J of the Basketball Champions League Round of 16, Galatasaray Ekmas was desperate on Tuesday evening.
Earning a win, 98-85, over defending champion Telekom Baskets Bonn postponed elimination scenarios beyond Gameday 4.
Klemen Prepelic piled up a game-high 20 points for the team coached by Yakup Sekizkok. David McCormack threw in 17 points behind 7/9 makes from inside the arc and grabbed eight rebounds. Reigning Best Young Player of the Champions League, Sadik Emik Kabaca went for 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks. Jarell Martin, Ismet Akpinar, and Samet Geyik were unavailable.
Jumping to 1-3, the Lions will need more positive showings against MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg and JDA Dijon down the stretch of the double-legged round-robin schedule to reach the Quarterfinals.
Arriving in Istanbul with nine consecutive wins in Round of 16 outings, the German club was forced down to 3-1. Nebraska product Glynn Watson Jr. produced a team-high 19 points in the losing effort at Sinan Erdem Dome. Savion Flagg followed with 13 points.
Besides Benedikt Turudic on the injury list, newcomer Lars Thiemann was missing and expected to join the team coached by Roel Moors in a few weeks.
Postgame press conference
Before resuming the continental campaign, Galata takes on Darussafaka Lassa looking to go up to 11-11 in the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi on Saturday. At 14-9 in Germany’s easyCredit BBL, Bonn visits MLP Academics Heidelberg on Sunday.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League