Bahçeşehir College defeated Italy’s Unahotels Reggio Emilia team 72-69 in the first match of the FIBA European Cup final.
About 300 Turkish spectators watched the fight from the stands.
The return leg of the match will be played on Wednesday, April 27 at Ülker Sports and Event Hall.
In the match that started with mutual baskets, Bahçeşehir College scored in the first section under the leadership of Smith. Even though Unahotels Reggio Emilia tried to respond to the Turkish representative with baskets from under the basket, the red-dark blue team, who got a score contribution from Jones, who came from the side in the last part of the period, finished the quarter ahead 19-18.
Starting the second quarter well, the home team took a 27-24 lead in the 14th minute with Johnson’s points. Quickly recovering, Bahçeşehir College took the lead with Dekker’s points in the 15th minute. The red-dark blue team went to the locker room 40-34 with the effective play of Solomon in the painted area in the remaining section.
Starting the second half with hits from behind the three-point line, the home team caught the draw with Thompson’s throw in the 23rd minute: 43-43. Bahçeşehir College regained control with Berkay Candan and Kartal Özmizrak’s baskets, increasing the lead to double digits with Jones’ score in the 28th minute: 43-54. The final period went with the superiority of the Turkish representative 63-47.
Bahçeşehir College increased the gap to 19 points in the final period. Increasing their hardness in defense and hitting consecutive hits from behind the three-point line, the home team reduced the lead to 1 point with Cinciarini’s throw in the 39th minute: 68-69. Bahçeşehir College, which maintained its superiority with Muhammed Baygül’s three-point field goal, won the park 72-69.
Jamal Jones, who scored 12 points, was the top scorer in Bahçeşehir College.
Hall: Unipol Arena
Referees: Fernando Calatrava Cuevas (Spain), Nicolas Maestre (France), Carsten Straube (Germany)
Unahotels Reggio Emilia: Cinciarini 20, Larson, Strautins 8, Johnson 16, Hopkins 6, Thompson 9, Rossi 5, Crawford 5
Bahçeşehir College: Hall 6, Muhammed Baygül 4, Smith 11, Berkay Candan 7, Oğuz Savaş, Jones 12, Kartal Özmizrak 11, Dekker 10, Solomon 9, Erkan Yılmaz, Black 2
1. Period: 18-19
Circuit: 34-40
3. Period: 47-63