By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
All four teams had a 1-1 record after two rounds in the Basketball Champions League Group E and AEK Betsson BC made things happen on the road in the first game of Round 3.
The “Queen” got the 80-69 win over VEF Riga with Mindaugas Kuzminskas feeling right at home in the Baltics with 19 points, Hunter Hale adding 13 and Grant Golden contributing 14.
Harrison Cleary scored 19 points, Issuf Sanon had 17 and Jaquan Lawrence added 10 for the losing side.
It was the first road win of AEK this season in the BCL and also the first after five straight defeats, counting last season.
AEK had things in check
After a balanced first quarter that ended with the hosts leading by one (19-18), AEK went on a 12-0 run, gaining a solid 11-point advantage (30-19).
The Greeks closed the first half being up by four (37-33), as VEF trimmed their lead to one point (34-33), but Dimitris Flionis scored a three, his first points in the game, to give AEK some distance again.
Cleary had already scored 13 points for the home side which continued the push and made it a one-point game (41-40).
However, AEK tamed the storm and entered the last quarter leading by 10 (64-54) as Hale made big shots in crucial moments and Kuzminskas contributed key points. The lead jumped to 16 (70-54) and the game was over.
Photo credit: Basketball Champions League