EUROLEAGUE - Champions Panathinaikos lost to Lottomatica (+ videos)
ROME (Euroleague) - Defending champions Panathinaikos suffered their first defeat in Euroleague Group C with an 85-67 reverse at the hands of Lottomatica Roma. The teams could not be separated in the first half with the scores level 48-48 at the interval. However, a decisive 20-9 run in the ...
ROME (Euroleague) - Defending champions Panathinaikos suffered their first defeat in Euroleague Group C with an 85-67 reverse at the hands of Lottomatica Roma.
The teams could not be separated in the first half with the scores level 48-48 at the interval. However, a decisive 20-9 run in the third period gave Roma a 68-57 lead heading into the final 10 minutes and the hosts did not look back.
Allan Ray led all scorers with 18 points for Lottomatica while Panathinaikos' best reply came from Sarunas Jasikevicius, who poured in 13 in a losing cause.
The Greeks remain at the top of the standings with a 7-1 record, but have AXA FC Barcelona (6-2) breathing down their necks following a 95-69 rout of Partizan Igokea.
The damage was done in the opening period when Barca raced to a 28-14 advantage with Partizan unable to respond for the rest of the contest.
Roger Grimau scored a game-high 19 points for the winners. They remain level with arch rivals Real Madrid in the table with the Spanish capital team posting an 87-77 victory over Fenerbahce.
Seventeen points and six rebounds from Felipe Reyes, including seven of 10 from two-point range, formed the backbone of Madrid's score.
In Group A, Montepaschi Siena maintained their challenge for a place in the Top 16 with a narrow 86-80 win a Union Olimpija.
The Slovenians held the edge until the start of the fourth quarter, when an impressive 31-20 run turned the game in Siena's favour.
Terrell McIntyre scored four three-pointers in the final five minutes for Roma to finish with 20 points, one less than team-mate Rimantas Kaukenas.
Montepaschi are now 6-2 in the group while Olimpija (3-5) remain below Zalgiris Kaunas, who were 102-82 winners over Virtus VidiVici Bologna.
Marcus Brown scored a game-high 31 points for the Lithuanians, who led 51-32 at half-time to set up the success.
In Group B's only game, 18 points from Marcus Fizer helped Maccabi Elite secure a 99-91 victory against Le Mans, who are now 0-8 in the standings.
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