By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Jumping to 2-3 in Group J of the Basketball Champions League Round of 16 kept Galatasaray Ekmas in the hunt for a ticket to the Quarterfinals until Telekom Baskets Bonn overpowered JDA Dijon later Tuesday.
Despite losing, 93-91, in Turkiye, MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg protected the tiebreaking advantage and clinched a berth in the Quarterfinals for the fourth time in team history.
A rally in the fourth period reduced the deficit to one point but the Lions narrowly held on in Sinan Erdem Dome.
Bosnian Miralem Halilovic posted a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double. Reigning Champions League Best Young Player Sadik Emir Kabaca put up a team-high 15 points. Among five more players scoring in double-digits, Dee Bost finished with 14 points. Jarell Martin and Samet Geyik were unavailable. Corey Walden and Bugrahan Tuncer did not play.
For the visitors, Jayvon Graves produced a game-high 26 points. Missing the first out of three free throws with 0.3 seconds left in the fourth quarter all but ruled out forcing overtime after trailing by 16 points. He made the second free throw and intentionally missed the third as time ran out.
The Lions were aiming for a win by 20 points to directly avoid elimination. Defending BCL champion Bonn defeating Dijon in the other Gameday 5 affair knocked them out of contention.
Defensive ace Yorman Polas Bartolo sat out for the team coached by Josh King. Removed from the lineup over recent weeks, Deion Hammond remained sidelined.
Postgame press conference
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League