By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
After 40 minutes of a tough battle, AEK defeated Panathinaikos in Round 20 of the Greek Basket League 77-73.
Panathinaikos suffered its third straight loss and fifth overall in the regular season for the first time since basketball became pro in Greece.
It all came down to the last seconds, as Marius Grigonis missed the crucial free throws to tie the score with 20 seconds on the clock. Dwayne Bacon got another chance but missed the three-point shot to turn the score around with four seconds left, and Isaiah Miles then scored two free throws to hand the win to AEK.
Akil Mitchell led the winning side with 17 points, while Miles, Vladimir Jankovic, and Brynton Lemar added 14 each, with Lemar scoring eight points in the decisive quarter.
Christos Serelis couldn’t count on Nate Walters and injured Mateusz Ponitka and Dimitris Agravanis, while Matt Thomas isn’t registered for the competition.
Dwyane Bacon returned and scored game-high 22 points for Panathinaikos, Grigonis added 17 points, and Georgios Papagiannis 11 with a perfect 4/4 from the field.
Basket League Round 20 results:
Apollon Patras – Promitheas 68-57
Aris – Ionikos 103-64
AEK Athens – Panathinaikos 77-73
Peristeri – Kolossos (26/03)
AS Karditsas – Lavrio (26/03)
Olympiakos – PAOK (26/03)
Standings: 1. Olympiakos 19-0, 2. Panathinaikos 14-5, 3. AEK 12-7, 3. Peristeri 12-7, 5. PAOK 11-8…