Leiden guard Thompson sets new season-high in points to headline Top Performers

MUNICH (FIBA Europe Cup) – The leading FIBA Europe Cup scorer Darius Thompson delivered points in bunches for ZZ Leiden in a victorious overtime thriller against Sakarya BSB, earning the right to headline the Top Performers after reclaiming the season record for scoring.

Having been the first player to reach the 30-point mark in the Qualifiers, the 23-year-old rookie guard exploded for a season-high 36 points on efficient 13-of-18 shooting from the floor, as Leiden turned around a 17-point deficit to come out with a 99-97 victory.

Thompson got hot in the extra period, knocking down four three-pointers in the last five minutes of play, including the game-winning basket with 18 seconds left, to take his overtime tally to 14 points.

To complement his record-breaking night, the ZZ Leiden scoring ace also added 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and a block for a league-best efficiency ranking of 36 this week.

His teammate Maurice Watson Jr. also had a night to remember, going 12-of-16 from the field for 25 points, 6 assists and 3 steals to lead the fightback efforts in the fourth quarter. It was the speedy point guard who set up the stage for Thompson to shine by forcing overtime at the end of regulation after rattling off 12 points in the fourth stanza.

Joining the ZZ Leiden backcourt partners on the Team of the Week, Dinamo Sassari big man Achille Polonara posted the second-best efficiency mark this week after going off for 22 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals in a 95-60 rout of the visiting Leicester Riders in Group H.

Elsewhere, Daniel Mullings of Kataja Basket helped the Finnish side punch a ticket to the Second Round with a come-from-behind 88-86 win over Aris in Group G. After missing the entire season to injury last year, the guard looked like his old self, filling the boxscore with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals.

Rounding out the Team of the Week lineup, Belfius Mons-Hainaut power forward Andrew Chrabascz kept the Belgian side alive in Group B with an 86-79 victory over Tsmoki-Minsk. Having collected 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting, grabbed 4 rebounds, dished out 3 assists and come away with 4 steals, the Armenia international put the Mons-Hainaut side on the board to ward off early elimination.

FIBA