By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Basketball Champions League Quarterfinals started with Antwerp beating Nizhny Novgorod, 83-68, at the Nagorny. Excitement was there for the Kendrick Perry versus Paris Lee matchup, but the latter certainly was the man of Wednesday’s match with 12 points in the first quarter and 24 overall.
The Russians were only conceding 5.6 three-pointers per contest during the 2018-19 BCL season, but 23-year-old Lee alone nailed five in the opening leg of the two-game series, his team ended up with 8/15. The Illinois State alumni tallied three rebounds, three steals and two assists as well.
Roel Moors’ side took off behind Lee’s strong showing to built an eight-point advantage during the first period. The hosts reacted to knot the game at 42 at the half, but a 13-2 third period run got the visitors a double-digit lead in the third quarter. Antwerp held on the rest of the way.
Ismael Bako had 14 points and Victor Sanders poured 11 for the winning side. Evgeny Baburin scored 15 for Zoran Lukic’s team and Dmitry Uzinsky added 11, but both slowed down during the second half. Perry finished with 17 points and Ian Hummer was out.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League