By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Neptunas Klaipeda won the first match against SIG Strasbourg at home in the Round of 16 in the Basketball Champions League 73-68.
Tomas Delininkaitis’ season-high 19 points pushed the home squad to the victory. Strasbourg lost but salvaged what they could ahead of Game 2, since they were trailing by 14 in the first half.
The visitors tried to get production from the low post with finding Miro Bilan down low at the beginning of the game. That game plan didn’t work despite Bilan’s quick 4 points. The home squad defense was on the high level as they allowed Strasbourg only 12 points in the first ten minutes. With that defense the Lithuanian team build a double-digit lead early in the game (22-12 after the first quarter). In one moment Neptunas was up by 14 (29-14).
However, Strasbourg was able to bounce back in the second quarter. Vincent Collet goes for the all-small lineup forcing the hosts to make 8 turnovers and closing the gap to 4 points after the first half (38-34).
The visitors were able to take the lead during the third quarter as they had 6 points lead, but it was Neptnuas who won the game eventually.
Delininkaitis had 19 points on 5-of-9 from beyond the arc as he hit 30 triples this season in the BCL.
David Logan led SIG Strasbourg with 19 points, they’ve suffered their second defeat over the last 12 games, but are still very much alive in the tie.
Photo credit: BCL