It becomes the first British team to reach the last four in EuroCup history
London overpowers Cluj, 79-91, to advance
Game Report
3 Mins read
The London Lions overpowered U-BT Cluj-Napoca 79-91 at BT-Arena on Wednesday to reach the BKT EuroCup Semifinals for the first time. The visitors never trailed after the first score and pushed the margin to 20 in the fourth quarter before a late rally by the Romanian champs. London will face the winner of Thursday’s clash between Paris Basketball and Joventut Badalona in the best-of-three semifinals.
Sam Dekker scored a season-high 21 points to lead five London scorers in double figures. David Nwaba added 13 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals, Josh Sharma posted 12 posted 12 points, 7 boards and 2 blocks, Conor Morgan netted 11 points and Jordan Taylor 10. Bryce Jones scored a personal-best 23 points for Cluj in defeat. D.J. Seeley and Mareks Mejeris contributed 15 points apiece and Adam Mokoka had 11.
Dekker dominates early
After Seeley opened the scoring, London got back-to-back threes from Tarik Phillip to climb in front. Jones’s second basket trimmed the deficit to 9-10, but then Nwaba erupted with a pair of scores and a block. Then London made a series of subs and Dekker took his first touch for a three-point play and his second for a floater and a 10-point lead. Cluj fought back with the next 6 points, but Sharma came up big inside and Dekker beat the first-quarter buzzer with a triple to make it 18-29.
Visitors roll with 0-11 run
The energy in the stands picked up as Cluj rallied to within 26-31 on a Patrick Richard jumper. After the TV timeout, Mokoka drew the hosts within 3. London bounced back with 8 unanswered points – including a pair of Conor Morgan threes – to prompt a Cluj timeout. Free throws by Nwaba and Matt Morgan completed a 0-11 run to lead 28-42. Jones connected from deep to give the hosts hope, however, Matt Morgan and Dekker combined for the next 7 points as the margin soared to 31-49. Mejeris got Cluj within 37-51 at the break.
Game Videos
- 03:16
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/09/25/fvuSV7VRTndxYH7kKnN5u7OaPKvlqi7F-1727289697606.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj Napoca-Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana | Round 1 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 03:50
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/29/sayVeCUcIEwv1pr6YtSXwZccpvpRxscp-1711749890370.jpg]()
London Lions-Paris Basketball | Semifinals Game 2 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/abb2946e-0fb2-4401-a9e1-d8af35f0f6f7.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A129%3A170]()
Magic Moment: Connor Morgan with a huge dunk
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f079861a-3bf1-42a6-b48e-044672a5ba77.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A91%3A50]()
Magic Moment: Dekker with a two-handed slam-dunk
- 03:47
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/26/Mo7x8AJyNYEQPCM3xEN48TwubPhVcTLG-1711490637726.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-London Lions | Semifinals Game 1 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 00:31
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/26/5qj89pER49cak48tBK2DLfKl3cw2eeAT-1711489881598.jpg]()
Magic Moment of the Night: Nwaba steal and dunk!
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d28d80a6-e8a7-40fb-91ac-a07cc60a0595.jpg?crop=1320%3A743%3Anowe%3A6%3A107]()
Magic Moment: Grantham throws it down!
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/5c06ca70-e74d-4093-a967-3987ada28180.jpg?crop=1213%3A683%3Anowe%3A44%3A16]()
Magic Moment: Nwaba steal and dunk!
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c9868bc0-4d3e-4d7c-842f-2d9a46ad968b.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A71]()
Magic Moment: Nelson's magic assist!
- 04:18
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/25/YhaqBsdIEOFYwLAcFW9MfBLY5Q9vJRXt-1711376521012.jpg]()
London eyes more history in semis against Paris
- 00:24
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/13/MzuWGbbQnmqeKUMQbcMJmBpkZlNab2uj-1710360281401.jpg]()
Magic Moment of the Night: Sharma rocks the rim!
- 03:51
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/13/iOJpzqtS6sxVogjU3plqthjkrB1CMXHG-1710358797738.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-London Lions | Quarterfinals Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9697e113-ec38-4b40-9bf2-50e368bbe145.jpg?crop=2594%3A1459%3Anowe%3A171%3A60]()
Magic Moment: Sharma with a block for the ages
- 00:22
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d00a25ad-0bf5-4334-a5c9-7d0cd6c45bd2.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A152%3A140]()
Magic Moment: Bryce Jones makes an impossible finish
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/51bddb1d-4e55-40d4-ac2a-136173f52233.jpg?crop=2400%3A1350%3Anowe%3A248%3A105]()
Magic Moment: Dekker beats the quarter buzzer
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7b235e29-07e4-414e-ae6f-6f9441b559ff.jpg?crop=1214%3A682%3Anowe%3A65%3A89]()
Magic Moment: Sharma rocks the rim
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/5c06ca70-e74d-4093-a967-3987ada28180.jpg?crop=1286%3A724%3Anowe%3A22%3A0]()
Magic Moment: Nwaba drives and dunks
- 00:27
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/06/lRXOZbTdWygf3y8v4gW4sXbYCHRRoRpQ-1709767071755.jpg]()
Magic Moment of the Night: Matt Morgan connects with Grantham!
- 03:47
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/06/Rusv3DYVoxQgH6fM2PSi7M6dGohYMIFN-1709756021369.jpg]()
London Lions-Turk Telekom Ankara | Eighthfinals Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/51b6ef42-b572-4441-bd66-e2633ab8627a.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A193%3A123]()
Magic Moment: Grantham dunks!
- 04:13
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/02/07/ZOa9TBuSxU6vMiteCvcDuBeLKBYNqWC9-1707343425489.jpg]()
London Lions-Wolves Vilnius | Round 18 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 03:51
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/02/07/ZiFPm9hTKUCp0DsaVeioXo3DkvSPG9Zj-1707334000314.jpg]()
7-Bet Lietkabelis Panevezys-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 18 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/17b28ab7-f8bc-437e-b4b9-69c5bf69a624.jpg?crop=815%3A458%3Anowe%3A59%3A103]()
Magic Moment: Adam Mokoka with a huge dunk!
- 01:03
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/02/01/WBDrTnV5fnfYhxICoxEUjGmcLTcGW7fQ-1706775913193.jpg]()
Emanuel Cate | Round 17 MVP | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 03:38
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/01/31/h88bUTrUMpr0HhHwicIpDz0hfnZuOT17-1706741051592.jpg]()
Dreamland Gran Canaria-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 17 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/541df698-5576-4f66-a33d-566710b0fd35.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A141%3A242]()
Magic Moment: Cate tips in the game winner
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/84909519-d5ea-4143-9b20-2ccc563e7d16.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A146]()
Magic Moment: Cate swats Brussino
- 03:43
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/01/31/mGPrgbIqaB4jk66z8rsOnb1xgwNUI3xM-1706730966510.jpg]()
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-London Lions | Round 17 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9697e113-ec38-4b40-9bf2-50e368bbe145.jpg?crop=2400%3A1350%3Anowe%3A242%3A92]()
Magic Moment: Sharma throws it down after nice feed
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/013df882-deea-4de3-9429-8d35e64da907.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A138%3A21]()
Magic Moment: Matkovic hammers home in traffic
- 00:26
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/01/24/59i77Ezpf4UvTaCk0ONGdSlvCw6G10n2-1706136261200.jpg]()
Magic Moment of the Night: Sharma's monster dunk!
- 03:46
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/01/24/bN1vJZESJJE2WSqsAYIH9W5Lxy6BYbKT-1706134330497.jpg]()
London Lions-Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul | Round 16 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9697e113-ec38-4b40-9bf2-50e368bbe145.jpg?crop=2400%3A1350%3Anowe%3A304%3A70]()
Magic Moment: Another monster dunk by Sharma!
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a4160a18-969f-4f6d-99fa-c535a0f38318.jpg?crop=960%3A540%3Anowe%3A1020%3A236]()
Magic Moment: Sharma gets airborne for a monster dunk!
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/59ff6680-fdb9-4fdd-8324-4018f5e4d6ee.jpg?crop=540%3A304%3Anowe%3A407%3A170]()
Magic Moment: Olaseni beats the halftime buzzer with a monster dunk
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/51720c4c-697a-42c5-9fbe-ffa4eb7c7244.jpg?crop=655%3A368%3Anowe%3A573%3A172]()
Magic Moment: A monster dunk by Nwaba!
- 03:35
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/01/23/GB9x90kMK0aixrBRobehFkJzvfrTE1Qz-1706038582482.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Dolomiti Energia Trento | Round 16 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 03:52
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/01/17/sBa7AktHkNgLMWxZVOvT815aN4c0Eqe7-1705529576451.jpg]()
London Lions-Joventut Badalona | Round 15 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 03:52
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/01/17/D2jSdHKPXfo1YFJsosEGxjg2bfwn4CCZ-1705525723877.jpg]()
ratiopharm Ulm-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 15 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9697e113-ec38-4b40-9bf2-50e368bbe145.jpg?crop=2555%3A1437%3Anowe%3A177%3A73]()
Magic Moment: Sharma rejects Cook!
- 03:55
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/01/12/mE3LVgKiboYvd5p5DzbCOevWmhydQEER-1705098252727.jpg]()
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-ALBA Berlin | Round 21 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 04:00
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/01/10/xcq3fTwqW3TUDMPcB6hQtyLh7M4KqWOb-1704916250046.jpg]()
U-BT-Cluj-Napoca-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 14 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 00:32
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/01/09/UmllQguc63BLlLwASJHF2vQvsTPeQu7b-1704830573588.jpg]()
Magic Moment of the Night: David Nwaba's first, spectacular EuroCup points!
- 03:43
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/01/09/r7Y2b1yw7GcN7m0hx1nYpagoXw2bhxJT-1704829951321.jpg]()
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv-London Lions | Round 14 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f38009e6-994b-4ab8-b5e9-33d9a26fbe4f.jpg?crop=473%3A266%3Anowe%3A374%3A6]()
Magic Moment: David Nwaba's first, spectacular EuroCup points!
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/59ff6680-fdb9-4fdd-8324-4018f5e4d6ee.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A146]()
Magic Moment: Olaseni's Statue of Liberty slam!
- 03:49
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2023/12/27/PTqVJ2QQ8q4Hj5YjdUL2cQ2W84amUj0w-1703709889150.jpg]()
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 13 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 04:17
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2023/12/26/Hb0KMktw05wx3ggjv4FJ2uXeuO1VQENG-1703628850212.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-London Lions | Round 13 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/abb2946e-0fb2-4401-a9e1-d8af35f0f6f7.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A138%3A146]()
Magic Moment: Conor Morgan rejects TJ Shorts!
- 03:41
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2023/12/20/UiudlDlDKz7B0noRQpZB6Txg4PIzGntb-1703109521408.jpg]()
London Lions-Prometey Slobozhanske | Round 12 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
Cluj makes its move
Cluj came out for the second half with a renewed defensive effort and after 5 minutes, the margin was down to 50-61 after Jones put his own miss back in. London called timeout only to see Mokoka connect from deep to get within 8. London regrouped with Sharma stepping up at both ends of the floor. A three by Taylor and another block by Sharma ended the third quarter with London in control 60-74.
London survives late scare
Back-to-back threes by Taylor and Luke Nelson top open the fourth quarter pushed the difference to 20 points. Cluj hit right back with threes by Seeley and Jarell Eddie. Seeley and Mejeris completed a 10-0 run to get within 70-80 with 5 minutes to play. Taylor revived London with his third three of the night, but Mejeris further trimmed the gap to 8. Nwaba scored a pair of key baskets to keep London in control and as Cluj’s comeback ran out of time.
