FIBA Europe Cup: Wednesday round-up

MUNICH (FIBA Europe Cup) - U-BT Cluj-Napoca held off a late rally to edge out Gaziantep 73-72 on the road and take control of Group G in the FIBA Europe Cup on Wednesday night.

The visitors were leading 67-58 with less than five minutes to go, but a 9-0 Gaziantep run saw them surge into a 72-69 lead on Jure Balazic’s three-pointer with 60 seconds left.

Filip Adamovic’s free throws chipped away at that lead and after Deyan Ivanov missed two free throws for the hosts, Aleksandar Rasic’s lay-up seven seconds from time won it for the visitors.

"It was a very tough game for us," expressed Cluj-Napoca coach Mihai Silvasan. "We came here with only one goal in mind, that was to win the game. We are very happy to succeed so late in the fourth quarter.

"We allowed them the three-pointer but they were hard shots to make. I congratulate my players and my staff for the important win. I am also happy for the winning mentality."

Kyndall Dykes was the star of the show with 21 points for Cluj, while Filip Adamovic added 16.

Edward Denmon did his best to drag Gaziantep level as he poured in 26 points, hitting 6-of-11 from three-point range.

Although Gaziantep out-scored the visitors 25-19 in the final 10 minutes, point guard Erden Eryuz said fortune had deserted them when they needed it most.

"As a team we had bad luck in the last period," he said. "We will work hard to break the bad luck. Congratulations to Cluj."

Tsmoki-Minsk used a huge fourth-quarter rally to beat BK Pardubice 80-75 on the road and take control of Group B.

Pardubice had led for most of the night, but Minsk outscored them 21-9 in the final period, taking the lead on Dru Joyce’s three-pointer with 2:18 left.

Pardubice’s final points of the night had come from Dominez Burnett with 4:48 left, putting them 75-71 up, before the visitors closed the game out with a 9-0 run.

Nemanja Milosevic and Djorde Gagic teamed up to lead Minsk to victory.

Milosevic led all scorers with 18 points while Gagic had 13 with 12 rebounds, but Minsk needed a huge fourth quarter.

While Minsk are sitting pretty at 2-0, Pardubice have cause for concern after a narrower-than-expected win over Apoel Nicosia in their first game. 

WEDNESDAY FULL RESULTS

Group A
Alba Fehervar 86-79 Brussels Basketball

Group D
Nanterre 92 81-73 FC Porto 

Group F
Bnei Herzliya 91-67 Prievidza 

Group G
Gaziantep 72-73 U-BT Cluj-Napoca
KB Peja 87-82 Petrolina AEK

Group H 
Sigal Prishtina 100-104 Rilski Sportist

Group I
Prienu-Birstono 99-61 BC Mures

Group J
BC Siauliai 75 -84 Apoel Nicosia
BK Pardubice 75-80 Tsmoki-Minsk

FIBA