The Romanian side held on in a thriller to remain near the top of the Group B table.
Cluj edges Aris, 59-61, on the road
Game Report
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 5 of 18
Regular Season
group b
Aris Midea ThessalonikiARI
5961
U-BT Cluj-NapocaUBT
group b
Overview
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U-BT Cluj-Napoca grabbed a 59-61 win away at Aris Midea Thessaloniki in Round 5 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup campaign on Wednesday evening. The hosts hit the ground running in the first quarter, but Cluj matched their energy on defense and managed to turn the game around in the second half. The visitors improved to 4-1 and Aris dropped to 2-3 following its second home loss of the season.
Andrija Stipanovic paired a team-high 13 points with 6 rebounds, while Mareks Mejeris scored 12 and downed 6 boards off the bench for a game-high PIR of 20. Patrick Richard was the third Cluj player on double-digits in scoring with 10 points. Roberto Gallinat paced Aris with 15 points but committed 6 turnovers. Dimitris Katsivelis, who filled in for the injured Vassilis Toliopoulos, had 11 points and Ronnie Harrell added 10.
Aris started strong at a buzzing Palais De Sports, with Gallinat scoring back-to-back triples and Surtan Sanogo sinking another one from deep in the first three possessions for a 9-2 lead. Cluj struggled against Aris’s rigid defense and scored its first field goal 4 and a half minutes into the first half, 15-5. Stipanovic took his tally to 4 points, all scored from the free-throw line, and Karel Guzman capitalized on a smooth Cluj team move to get his team within 19-14. Aris was held scoreless for more than 2 minutes, but Kristeon Bankston netted a bucket for his first points of the game. Emanuel Cate converted from the line to complete a three-point play on the other end, but Aris took a narrow 22-19 lead into the second quarter.
Bankston posterized Cate with a monster dunk, but Cluj bounced back, with Jarell Eddie opening his account to tie the game at 25-25. Stipanovic scored a put-back basket and D.J. Seeley got his first points with a fade-away jumper for Cluj’s first lead in the game, 27-29. The two teams exchanged leads in the last 2 minutes of the second quarter, with Aris making 4 from the line to get back in front, 33-32, just before the break.
Game Videos
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/53-qPl-i8LI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Quarterfinals Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 01:53
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/04/AXxM86Uate29BmruUQujlATDlT87R8Ta-1741119649563.jpg]()
Zavier Simpson: 'It was crazy!'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/be601c94-1b13-4b11-a455-4f1b584d9947.jpg]()
Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Eighthfinals Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/055f73db-6dab-4f97-88cf-404b81c247b7.jpg?crop=1246%3A701%3Anowe%3A52%3A53]()
Stephens's alley-oop dunk! Magic Moment
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/92816f3f-c316-4c82-a8ac-6c6ffa0694bd.jpg?crop=1310%3A737%3Anowe%3A10%3A37]()
Stephens attacks the rim! Magic Moment
- 00:22
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/02/05/UuQpe2wfOHFBVPsew9SQkgv2zZtns68j-1738795224029.jpg]()
Woodbury drives baseline for poster slam! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c11bce19-a32f-4b67-9741-4be53fe450d9.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/95d78fb8-76e6-4bb6-8f46-5c908f73d153.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A159]()
Woodbury’s fastbreak slam! Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f0fcf968-4842-4d13-ab6f-3abbd2ea4a9a.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A99%3A117]()
Woodbury drives baseline for poster slam! Magic Moment
- 00:27
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/29/VwiYerO6eMSF5XTf40pE2gJHLIWYglyN-1738187145494.jpg]()
Figueroa rejects from behind! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f1f5f203-8006-48de-b07f-05ba0d0b3236.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/58505cdc-c17a-4a41-a0ec-e12858a2baaa.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A193%3A85]()
Figueroa rejects from behind! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/GJsnDy3lASk/maxresdefault.jpg]()
7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:25
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/314dfc99-6bba-4873-9e85-4578020f92a8.jpg?crop=1136%3A639%3Anowe%3A184%3A90]()
What an assist by Mokoka! Magic Moment
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2183c7a3-9f3c-4105-acd0-089253215742.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A167%3A25]()
Mokoka swats Stenionis! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c221ebde-ce89-4560-9d2c-5ade2109832b.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/57ba786e-4e6d-409a-a07c-c679b9164a81.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Turk Telekom Ankara | Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cd5bc455-e41a-4367-a103-92808b23f8f3.jpg?crop=1288%3A724%3Anowe%3A31%3A30]()
Lovely team baseline move by Cluj! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/r_IM8-CGA2U/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Umana Reyer Venice-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/05ff8965-56a0-42c2-ac7f-457f2bf26508.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A118]()
Salin creates a fastbreak from the floor! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e4708395-9756-48ca-bffd-0bb83dd71484.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse | Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a88fc0b9-9773-40b6-849e-f8112d5d7b26.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A167%3A39]()
Zimpson dances and scores! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9688830d-8bed-4e48-bfa4-caefc2212018.jpg]()
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-Aris Thessaloniki | Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c5c4946d-f4ae-4bdc-8dc0-09a52372ac70.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem | Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/292b724d-953f-4590-a792-ede9d1eebb00.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A106%3A41]()
Stephens posterizes Smith! Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/55ab7e7e-56b5-4f65-ba51-d968ecfadcab.jpg?crop=4800%3A2700%3Anowe%3A225%3A637]()
An impossible three from Toliopoulos! Magic Moment
- 00:35
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/03/VeqxBSjYkLltGasXC4tfAOifP5cPOKoH-1735939361522.jpg]()
Mokoka takes off for the massive dunk! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/Y9kg3RC5GC0/maxresdefault.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bb684647-7ca2-4db3-bacb-d87a9aaaf699.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A173%3A146]()
Mokoka takes off for the massive dunk! Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2e41e3d1-0b0e-439b-98c4-eb7a4a38913a.jpg?crop=1004%3A565%3Anowe%3A269%3A78]()
Hankins finds Mejeris for the slam! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e6003d64-5e5c-4386-9ff0-a85023270f68.jpg]()
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/Bt3SoMaLDc4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/da540dff-7fcd-4b28-99ae-3edac2f31ed5.jpg?crop=1209%3A679%3Anowe%3A85%3A97]()
Simpson's circus shot! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/ADe7hkcccCI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-7-bet Lietkabelis Panevezys | Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/Jji9axLj4fs/maxresdefault.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse | Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:28
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ce750352-36a6-4eaf-a17d-105f866432fe.jpg?crop=1191%3A670%3Anowe%3A103%3A62]()
Seeley's three to take the lead for good! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/zzJ9Vgml_zw/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Turk Telekom Ankara-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/40a8fb17-a93a-470d-bbf2-ba8aeb7bcd48.jpg?crop=1271%3A715%3Anowe%3A0%3A68]()
An open lane for Guzman's dunk! Magic Moment
- 00:30
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/049e436b-d82f-40d6-b6ab-f0f547d742e7.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A83%3A172]()
Big hustle, big dunk! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/69d88395-6f1a-4bfe-8706-6715aedcad0b.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-Umana Reyre Venice | Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:27
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/03/BTGH04Yt0du0CkpC3jILvLWipkRMQLOn-1733264308516.jpg]()
Guzman with the massive dunk on the break! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9699c983-d978-48e4-ab59-59bd3a23002f.jpg]()
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6f2ab088-9fb2-49bf-8afa-cd5359c80bd6.jpg?crop=737%3A414%3Anowe%3A237%3A54]()
Hankins throws it down! Magic Moment
- 00:19
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/28/fqsidqDwWGesOmT3nVCvT8CS55xax7vp-1732833407181.jpg]()
Simpson-Hankins connection! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/1IQTDgXgJiw/maxresdefault.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/09297ac2-b6ab-46cf-9f1c-0c365e106183.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A146]()
Karel Guzman throws it down! Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/de19609b-49e0-4461-9bfb-daf83823f15c.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A138%3A53]()
Banks bangs one home! Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/eac35cf2-259e-4e41-9e87-d3f96e48eaa5.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A97%3A111]()
Simpson finds Stephens! Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cfd994c7-06d3-4c66-a369-b29bbdb48cda.jpg?crop=838%3A471%3Anowe%3A372%3A52]()
Banks' double block! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/3eO7M5jQ2PM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-7-bet Lietkabelis Panevezys | Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
Backdoor cuts by Richard and Mejeris led to three uncontested baskets for a 0-6 Cluj run in the opening stages of the second half. Sanogo responded to Mejeris’s dunk with a slam on the counter and Katsivelis scored a layup to draw Aris within 39-42. Eddie sank back-to-back triples for an 8-point Cluj lead, but Eleftherios Bochoridis drilled a jumper and Harrell scored a three-pointer on the break to bring Aris within 46-49 heading into the last quarter.
Another Harrell triple allowed Aris to tie the game 49-49, but Cate got an easy basket and Stipanovic took his tally to 13 points for a 49-53 Cluj lead. Katsivelis completed a three-point play on the other end. Mejeris scored his fourth basket from inside the arc and Cluj held a 52-55 cushion. Gallinat drilled a tough triple and Marcus Carr made 2 of 2 from the line for Aris’s first lead in the second half, 57-55, with 3:42 left on the clock. The two teams went scoreless for 2 minutes before Adam Mokoka scored 1 of 2 from the charity stripe. Two converted Gallinat free-throws were followed by a Mejeris basket and a couple of Guzman points from the line for a 59-60 Cluj lead with 25 seconds to go. Neither Gallinat nor Silvio De Sousa, who pounced on the rebound, managed to score in the last Aris possession and the visitors escaped with their second road win this season.
