By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Virtus Bologna beat Olimpia Milano 83 – 65 to gain the upper hand in the battle for the first place in the Italian League regular season. Bologna is now two wins higher than Milano while owing the tiebreaking advantage.
Mam Jaiteh led Bologna overall with 18 points plus 15 rebounds while Kyle Weems and Isaia Cordinier also dropped 18 points apiece. Tornike Shengelia added 10 points and seven rebounds for the winning side that was far more effective than its opponents in all areas of the game and went on to even lead by 26.
Ben Bentil had 15 points, Tomasso Baldaso scored 12 and Nicolo Melli finished with 10 points plus five boards for Milano. The Red Shoes had to cope with the absences of Sergio Rodriguez, Shavon Shields, Troy Daniels and Gigi Datome due to COVID-19 and injuries.
The game was close only for the first 15 minutes. With the score 25 – 25 halfway through the second period, Bologna made a 10 – 0 run and then closed halftime up 46 – 34.
Not only did Milano never manage to recover but crumbled down the more the game progressed. Bologna established a lead of 20+ near the end of the third quarter and cruised to an easy win.