FIBA Europe - Michelori stars as Virtus win

BOLOGNA (EuroCup) - Italy international Andrea Michelori carried Virtus Bologna early and then his team-mates went on a decisive run at the end of the first quarter en route to a 95-77 victory over JDA Dijon Basket on Tuesday night.

The Italian giants, who own a share of the lead in Lega A with fellow 11-3 side Montepaschi Siena, are among the favourites to capture the EuroCup.

They got 18 points from Michelori - 11 in the opening eight minutes of this Group L encounter.

Oliver Romain's three at the end of the second quarter left Dijon trailing 44-35, but they would get no closer with Virtus pulling away early in the second half.

Michelori's contributions will not be forgotten.

Having missed the early part of the campaign through injury, he was outstanding in the early going, and his three-ball with 2:51 to go in the first period put the Italians into a 16-15 lead.

That was the basket that took his tally to 11, and also put Virtus in front for good.

Anthony Lux of Dijon led all scorers with 26 points.

In Group J, Joshua Davis enjoyed a starring role as Dynamo Moscow Region overcame a half-time deficit to thrash ASK Riga 91-68.

Not only did Davis lead all scorers with 24 points, but his four three-pointers at the start of the third period sparked a 21-4 run that saw Dynamo go from 39-38 down to 59-43 ahead.

The Russian side never looked back after that and, as Riga crumbled under the home side’s offensive onslaught, Dynamo would go on to outscore their opponents 53-29 in the second half.

In the same pool, Kenan Bajramovic led SC Azovmash Mariupol to a winning start as they beat Maroussi Athens 83-74 on the road.

Bajramovic scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a dominant performance from the 2.04m forward.

In Group K, Turk Telekom's prolific scorer Erwin Dudley was at it again with a 28-point masterclass to lead his side to victory over Spirou Charleroi.

Dudley, a 2.01m center from Alabama, is averaging better than 22 points in the EuroCup and his output in the 81-71 victory equalled a season-high.

Eight of the big man's points came in the opening quarter when the home side took control for good.

Dudley also had 12 rebounds in the game as Turk Telekom outboarded their opponents 35-25.

Ralph Biggs paced the Belgians with 21 points.

Panionios also won in Group K with a 62-60 triumph at Lokomotiv Rostov - Damir Miljkovic finishing with 16 points for the victors.

Group I saw wins for Estudiantes and Liege Basket.

The Spaniards put their dismal domestic form to one side with a hard-fought 70-60 victory over Cypriot side DTL EKA AEL Lemesos.

Liege required double overtime to see off BC Siauliai 104-97.

PA Sport