BAXI Manresa move to first place in Group B after win over Pinar Karsiyaka
In a Group B showdown between two unbeaten teams, BAXI Manresa edged out Pinar Karsiyaka 72-67 in a tough road environment to move into first place in the group.
IZMIR (Turkey) - In a Group B showdown between two unbeaten teams, BAXI Manresa edged out Pinar Karsiyaka 72-67 in a tough road environment to move into first place in the group.
It wouldn't be a BCL game without a close Karsiyaka finish, as their first three games have now been decided by a total of 10 points.
Karsiyaka head coach Ufuk Sarica was not on the bench for the game due to a two-game suspension for repeated no-shows at postgame press conferences last season.
Akil Mitchell led the way for Karsiyaka with 18 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks.
Bonzie Colson struggled for the first time in the BCL season, as he finished with 8 points and 10 rebounds, on 3-of-15 shooting from the field and 0-of-3 from three-point.
Turning point: Karsiyaka went on a 7-0 run to end the third quarter leading 55-52.
They led for almost the entire fourth quarter until Manresa went up 68-67 with 1:17 left.
Two free throws then put Manresa up 70-67 with 15 seconds left.
Colson had a chance to create some more magic like he has in the past, but this time, his potential game-tying three-point shot rimmed out.
Game hero: Luke Maye led Manresa and almost double-doubled with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists and was a perfect 7-of-7 from the line.
He also converted a clutch four-point play to cut Manresa's deficit to 58-61 with 5:41 left in the game.
Stats don't lie: Both teams really struggled shooting from deep, as Karsiyaka went 4-of-22 and Manresa went 6-of-30.
The game was close throughout, as the biggest lead was only 8 points for Karsiyaka.
Manresa only led the game for 8:53, but they led when it mattered the most at the end.
Manresa outscored Karsiyaka 34-21 in points off the bench with Chima Moneke (10 points) and Sylvain Francisco (9 points) combining for 19 of those 34 bench points.
Bottom line: Karsiyaka fall to 2-1 and are now in second place in Group B.
Manresa remain undefeated at 3-0 and are in first place in the group.
The two teams will play each other again next on Nov. 9 in Manresa, Spain.
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