EUROLEAGUE – Fenerbahce need OT but finally beat Lietuvos Rytas

ISTANBUL (Euroleague) – A bizarre game in Turkey between Fenerbahce Ulker and Lietuvos Rytas is what Thursday’s Euroleague Top 16 play will be remembered for.

Fener won the game 95-91 in overtime to improve to 2-1 in Group E, but the Turkish team believed they had won the game in regulation – only to be told to return to the court to play the extra period.

An hour elapsed between the end of regulation and overtime, a delay due in part to the need of some players to be re-taped.

"It was one of the strangest things that happened in my life,” said Fener boss Bogdan Tanjevic, the man who led Turkey’s national team at the last two EuroBaskets and at the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

“I have never played overtime after one hour before. The conditions were really very difficult to play.”

Tanjevic’s team had to come from 10 points down at the start of the fourth quarter to tie the game and right at the end of regulation, Will Solomon buried a jump shot which the home team and its fans believed had won the game.

But after celebrating on court and heading to the changing rooms, the referees decided the ball had left Solomon’s hands after the buzzer sounded, something that video replay confirmed, and both teams had to return to play the overtime.

Solomon ended up with a game-high 27 points for Fenerbahce. Lietuvos Rytas dropped to 1-2.

Tau Ceramica lead the Group E at 3-0 after an 87-69 triumph at Aris.

Partizan Belgrade defeated Efes Pilsen 78-65 in Serbia to leave both teams at 1-2 in Group D, while in Group F, Maccabi Tel Aviv were 94-75 winners over Real Madrid in Israel.

Maccabi and Real Madrid are now 2-1.

Barcelona are now 2-1 after winning 86-57 at home against Lottomatica Roma (2-1). 

Highlights



FIBA