With its 4th win in a row, Cluj remains in the heart of the race for a top-two finish in Group B.
Cluj survives late Trento run to win 88-83
U-BT Cluj-Napoca survived a late push from Dolomiti Energia Trento to claim an 88-83 victory on Tuesday at BT Arena. Despite dominating for stretches and leading by as many as 17 in the fourth quarter, the hosts needed some key plays by Bryce Jones in the final minute to preserve the win. Cluj won its fourth straight game to improve to 12-4 on the season to remain in the hunt for a top-two finish in Group B – and with it an eighthfinals bye. Trento slipped to 7-9 and in the thick of the race for a playoff spot.
Andrija Stipanovic posted 16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and Karel Guzman also scored 16 and grabbed 3 steals to lead the winners. Adam Mokoka added 14 points, Jones finished with 12 points and 5 assists and Patrick Richard added 11 points and 5 assists. Trento’s Kamar Baldwin led all scorers with 21 points plus 4 steals. Paul Biligha and Quinn Ellis contributed 12 points apiece, Toto Forray netted 11 and Davide Alviti had 10 in defeat.
Stipanovic fuels early Cluj charge
Stipanovic dominated early, scoring 5 baskets in the opening 5 minutes as the hosts raced to a 15-6 start. A three by Baldwin did little to change the momentum as Jarell Eddie heated up with his second and third triples of the night to give Cluj a 23-11 cushion. Derek Cooke provided some resistance for Trento. Despite seeing Cluj lead by as many as 14, Biligha willed Trento to within 28-18 after 10 minutes.
Ellis and Cooke lead Trento comeback
A pair of Trento scores to start the second quarter drew the visitors within 6. Threes by Guzman and Richard restored a double-digit difference and prompted a Trento timeout. Ellis stepped up for the visitors and Cooke provided an alley-oop slam and a putback in a 2-9 run that trimmed the deficit to 40-38. Guzman’s put-back slam made it 42-38 at the break.
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After Trento takes the lead, Cluj regains momentum
Trento completed the comeback with a jumper from Baldwin and a layup from Cooke to lead 42-43. Guzman put Cluj back on top – twice – and the hosts regained control, 53-48, midway through the quarter. The momentum returned firmly to Cluj as Guzman forced a turnover and Mokoka and Mareks Mejeris dunked on consecutive possessions. Mokoka restored a double-digit Cluj advantage before Forray drew Trento to within 66-60 entering the fourth quarter.
Late Trento rally sets up tense finish
After Baldwin got Trento within 4, Emanuel Cate scored twice to ignite a 13-0 run that also featured triples by Jones and Richard. The 79-62 difference was the largest of the game. Trento continued to fight and after Alviti’s steal and layup made it 81-72 with less than 4 minutes remaining, Cluj called timeout to regroup. A triple by Richard all but sealed the outcome. However, Alviti led a 0-11 response to get Trento within 1 on an Ellis triple. Jones found Mejeris open for a layup with 12.3 seconds left that made it 86-83. Jones then forced Baldwin into a turnover and iced the game with free throws with 3.6 seconds to go.