Galatasaray Ekmas Men’s Basketball Team lost 96-93 to the French representative JDA Bourgogne Dijon, which it hosted in the second match of Group J of the Champions League Round of 16.
In the first 1.5 minutes of the match, Galatasaray was ahead 7-0 with baskets by Walden and Sadık Emir. The yellow-reds kept control of the game and continued to produce baskets with Bost, Halilovic, Sadık Emir, Walden and McCormack, gaining 17 points (24-7) in the 6th minute. The home team kept the difference at double digits in the fight that continued with mutual baskets, and finished the first quarter ahead 38-24.
While Galatasaray stood out with its good defense at the beginning of the second period, its offensive performance fell short of the first quarter. Entering the period with a 4-0 lead, the yellow-reds increased the difference to 18 points at the beginning of the 13th minute: 42-24. The guest team got three-pointers each from Oniangue and Hammonds and reduced the difference to 12 points (42-30) in the middle of the 14th minute. Galatasaray broke the silence, which lasted about 2 minutes, with baskets by Bost and Prepelic, and was ahead 47-34 in the 15th minute. Galatasaray, which achieved the highest difference of the first half with 19 points (58-39) in the 19th minute of the match, entered the halftime with a 60-44 advantage.
Entering the second half of the match with McCormack’s scoring play, Galatasaray increased the difference to 25 points (80-55) with the basket scored by Bost from behind the 3-point line at the beginning of the 28th minute. The third period of the match ended with the advantage of the yellow-reds, 83-63.
JDA Bourgogne Dijon was the side that started the last quarter well. The French representative made a 7-0 run from Caver and Oniangue and reduced the difference to 13 points at the beginning of the 33rd minute. Unable to produce on offense, Galatasaray could not prevent its opponent from scoring after losing balls in defense. JDA Bourgogne Dijon, which scored consecutive points with the momentum it gained and knew how to participate in the game, achieved a 92-92 draw in the 39th minute. Galatasaray took the lead 93-92 with Prepelic’s 1 point from the free throw line with 50 seconds left. Although the yellow-reds defended well in the rest, they could not prevent Caver’s layup in the last second of the offensive period and fell behind 94-93. In the remaining time, the guest team scored 2 more points and Galatasaray lost the match 96-93.
With this result, the yellow-reds suffered their second defeat in the group. JDA Bourgogne Dijon won for the first time.
REACTION TO HEAD COACH MITROVIC
Galatasaray fans reacted to head coach Zvezdan Mitrovic after the defeat when they were ahead by 25 points.
The fans chanted for Mitrovic’s resignation, which they reacted to as they went to the locker room after the end of the match.
Meanwhile, an argument broke out when Mitrovic responded to the fans who were swearing at him. Galatasaray Club employees took the experienced head coach to the dressing room.