By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce Beko recovered from a sluggish start to defeat Yukatel Merkezefendi, 85-77, on Sunday.
Canadian Marial Shayok registered a season-high 18 points. Ismet Akpinar with 14 points and captain Melih Mahmutoglu with 12 points emerged as the remaining double-digit scorers. Devin Booker added nine points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Latvian Rihards Lomazs got the game-high 21 points in the losing effort.
The team coached by Sasha Djordjevic starting the second half with a 10-0 run got back in the lead and in a commanding position in the BSL Regular Season contest. Fresh off Friday’s Turkish Airlines EuroLeague team-low 43 points versus AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milano, the Turkish powerhouse bounced back and also gained sole possession of the lead in the domestic league going up to 7-1.
Nando de Colo, Marko Guduric, and Jan Vesely all sat out alongside injured Danilo Barthel, considered day-to-day.
Shifting back to the EuroLeague and the upcoming double-game week, Fener will be on the road against FC Bayern Munich and Zalgiris Kaunas on Tuesday and Friday, respectively.
In earlier Sunday Round 8 action, Besiktas Icrypex claimed its sixth straight win across all competitions, defeating fellow Basketball Champions League participant, Pinar Karsiyaka, 79-67, on the road. Memphis-born Dedric Lawson posting a 24-point, 12-rebound double-double was key in upping the domestic tally to 5-3.
QJ Peterson registered 21 points for Gaziantep in the away win, 79-67, versus Tofas Bursa. Croatian Tomislav Zubcic going for 24 points was not enough for the hosts.
Galatasaray Nef joined Gaziantep and Besiktas at 5-3 after the win, 100-73, opposite Semt77 Yalovaspor. DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell ended up with 24 points.
Anadolu Efes is now tied in second place with Karsiyaka at 6-2.
Sunday results:
Pinar Karsiyaka – Besiktas Icrypex 67-79
Tofas Bursa – Gaziantep 70-89
Fenerbahce Beko – Yukatel Merkezefendi 85-77
Galatasaray Nef – Semt77 Yalovaspor 100-73