February 10, 2012
Qualifying Round G, Game 1 report: Benetton Fribourg 64-92 Kalise Gran Canaria
Joel Freeland - Kalise Gran CanariaKalise Gran Canaria all but assured its place in the Eurocup regular season with 64-92 pounding of Benetton Olimpic Fribourg on Tuesday in Switzerland. The Canary Islanders return home now with an overwhelming advantage in the second leg, ready to clinch their spot in Group G alongside Asvel Basket, Azovmash Mariupol and Lietuvos Rytas. Joel Freeland dominated with 24 points and 3 blocks in 21 minutes to carry Gran Canaria. The hosts jumped out to an early 10-3 lead and led 14-12 after 10 minutes, but Freeland teamed with Daniel Kickert to lead a 2-17 charge to start the second period that broke the game open. The lead reached 21-45 by halftime and Gran Canaria continued to pour it on in the second half to take care of business early. Melvin Sanders added 17 points and James Augustine scored 12 for the winners. Bruce Fields paced Benetton with 19 points, while Dennis Harrison, Valentin Wegmann and Oliver Vogt scored 10 apiece. Vogt also grabbed 9 rebounds.

The game got off to a slow start, with the two teams combining to miss 8 shots before Fields broke the deadlock after two-plus minutes. Augustine got on the board for Gran Canaria with a three-point play, but a determined home side looked to pull away. Paascal Perrier-David scored twice during an 8-0 push as Benetton delighted its fans with a 10-3 lead. The joy would be short-lived though, as Freeland scored the game’s next 7 points to tie things up. Fields and Perrier-David answered with free throws to put Benetton on top once more and Marcus Norris would only cut it to 14-12 after 10 minutes. The second period was all Gran Canaria though. Kickert and Freeland kicked things into high gear by combining for 15 points in a 2-17 charge to start the period that broke the game open. The visitors held Fribourg scoreless for nearly four minutes before Vogt converted on the offensive glass. Sanders kept Gran Canaria going with a pair of three-pointers and soon an Augustine jumper made it a 20-point game. Mario Fernandez chipped in with 6 as Gran Canaria finished the half with 11 unanswered points to make it 21-45 at the break.

Baskets by Freeland and Augustine as the second half began showed that Gran Canaria was determined to end this contest early. Harrison and Wegmann tried to ignite the hosts, but Sanders, Augustine and Freeland were there to match them every step of the way. Gran Canaria’s second unit capitalized on their minutes and James Morgan hit a triple to extend the visitors’ lead to 30. It reached 22 before a Wegmann triple made it 44-74 after three periods. Ramel Allen and Fields tried to bring the score back to a more respectable level. However, after the hosts got within 25, Gran Canaria reeled off 8 straight to end all doubts with six minutes left to play.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Eurocupbasketball.com
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