Usak duo Auguste, Vasiliauskas headline Top Performers
MUNICH (FIBA Europe Cup) - After a modest showing on the first leg of the FIBA Europe Cup Round of 16 tie against Oradea, Usak big man Zach Auguste stole the spotlight in the second game and pushed the Turkish side through to the Quarter-Finals with an outstanding individual display.
The 23-year-old American power forward was the star of the drama-packed second leg action with 30 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals and a block, as Usak overcame a double-digit deficit from the first game with a more than convincing 108-82 victory at home.
Auguste topped all other players in the FIBA Europe Cup this week with a ranking of 37.
BIG team win!! Needed to win by 10 or more to move on and we got the job done and some!!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/9XOs0EgmJj
— Z.A. (@ZachEliAuguste) February 22, 2017
His teammate Sarunas Vasiliauskas also played a vital role in Usak completing the comeback, scoring 28 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three and dishing out 5 assists without a single turnover, an excellent standard for a point guard.
Armani Moore bowed out of the FIBA Europe Cup with a bang, scoring 22 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, distributing 3 dimes and coming away with 3 steals. The exit for his side Stelmet Zielona Gora in general was less graceful, with the Polish club losing 102-83 against Cibona on the road in Zagreb.
Gaziantep scoring ace Marcus Denmon also bid the competition farewell with a memorable performance of 26 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. Despite losing the first leg to Ironi Nahariya by 21 points, the Turkish side mounted a real challenge at home, but fell slightly short with an 80-65 victory.
.@ahillville tosses it up, @Frank_Wriz15 takes care of the rest! #FIBAEuropeCup pic.twitter.com/oRLTRyTftr
— FIBA Europe Cup (@FIBAEuropeCup) February 22, 2017
Having willed Enisey Krasnoyarsk to a favorable result in a double-overtime drama against Demir Insaat, Frank Elegar completes the Top Performers lineup with a performance of 23 points, 11 boards and 2 blocked shots in nearly 40 minutes of playing time.
The Russian side lost the fixture 104-96, but topped Buyukcekmece by a whisker on aggregate after winning the first leg by 10 points in Russia.
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