By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
In quite possibly the surprise of the season so far in the FIBA Champions League, Pinar Karsiyaka took a stunning 90 – 83 victory over Besiktas in Istanbul and advanced to the competition’s quarterfinals with a 165 – 153 aggregate score.
The hosts blew a 18-point (58 – 40) lead they had in the beginning of the second half, crumbling down more and more as the game progressed until their opponents gained total control of what was taking place on the floor.
A defeat with less than 5 points would be sufficient for the team from Izmir that had won the first leg game 75 – 70, but coach Markovic ultimately moved to the next stage in a triumphant manner.
Mike Green paced Karsiyaka with 22 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds while Dajuan Summers added 21 plus 6 rebounds and Josh Owners posted a double-double of 12 points/10 rebnounds.
The winning puzzle for coach Markovic’s squad was completed with Mateusz Ponitka (18 points, 6 rebounds) and J’ Covan Brown (12 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds).
DJ Strawberry (17 points) and Vladimir Stimac (16 points, 12 rebounds) stood out for Besiktas.
FIBA Champions League Round 16 Wednesday 7/3 Results:
Besiktas – Pinar Karsiyaka 83 – 90 (153 – 165 aggregate score)
Neptunas Klaipeda – Ludwigsburg 58 – 52 (119 – 125 aggregate score)
Monaco – AEK 95 87 (163 – 156 aggregate score)
Iberostar Tenerife – PAOK 80 – 54 (143 – 120 aggregate score)
Sidigas Avellino – Reyer Venezia 68 – 73 (117 – 125 aggregate score)