Qualifying Round D, Game 1 report: Allianz Swans 82-82 Red Star
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 Deteri Mayes's three-pointer with 17 seconds left Allianz Swans an 82-82 tie with Red Star in its home first leg in the Eurocup second qualifying round. Mayes and Anthony Fisher both scored 21 points while Florian Schoniger added 12 points. Reggie Huffman and Matthias Mayer each netted 10 points for the hosts. Red Star enters next week's second leg at home with good chances of advancing to the regular season after Tadija Dragicevic led the way with 17 points. Vladimir Stimac added 12 points, while Elmedin Kikanovic had 11 and Nemanja Bjelica 10 points.
Boris Bakic opened the scoring for the guests and Red Star built its first bigger lead after back-to-back layups by Mirko Kovac and Marko Marinovic for a 6-11 advantage. Schoniger nailed a triple, but Andre Owens hit a three-ball and 2 foul shots in a 0-9 surge for a 9-20 gap, which was 11-20 after one period. Stimac scored two straight baskets early in the second as the lead grew to 11-24. Two scores by Fisher trimmed the deficit to 17-26 only to see Dragicevic drain two baskets to push the cushion to 17-32. A Fisher layup made it a 10-point game and another lay-in had the hosts to within 30-39. But Marko Keselj knocked down a triple just before the break for a 30-42 lead.
Mayer and Mayes both drained treys as Swans trimmed the gap to 37-44 early in the second half. Kikanovic pushed the lead back up to 37-46 before the hosts took over the run of play. Peter Hutter scored two baskets and Fisher scored five points and Huffman’s layup completed a 14-4 run for a 51-50 Swans advantage. Bjelica answered with a three-pointer and a three-point play and a triple from Owens put Red Star ahead 53-59. But Schoniger hit another three-pointer as the lead was just 56-61 after three periods. Milan Milosevic opened the fourth quarter and Red Star remained ahead by 7 points. Schoniger struck again from long range and Mayes converted a three-pointer as Swans recaptured the lead, 71-70, with four minutes left. The lead switched hands three times and Dragicevic’s triple gave Red Star a 75-79 lead late. Dragicevic hit a lay-up for a 79-82 lead with 28 seconds left. But Mayes answered with a triple to even the game with 17 seconds remaining and that’s how it ended.
QUOTES
Allianz Swans head coach Bob Gonnen:
"When you play against such a great team with such a well-known coach, you need to have your team greatly motivated. Each of my players today gave his heart on the court and they played perhaps their best game of the season."
Allianz Swans forward Peter Hutter:
"We used our home-court advantage tonight. But now we go to Belgrade and they are the favorite."
Red Star head coach Svetislav Pesic:
"The fans got to see an interesting game, very intense and attractive. In the first half we had everything under control, especially on the defensive side. In the second half, Gmunden risked everything and started to make their triples. We then become nervous and had lost our control. If you are in front nearly the entire game, you cannot be pleased with such a result."
Red Star forward Marko Keselj:
"We had a bad second half. They made everything and scored 52 points. I hope we play better in Belgrade and we can qualify."
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Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Eurocupbasketball.com
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