Paris Basketball had several role players step up to help it beat KK Cedevita Olimpija in Round 9 of the 2023-24 EuroCup Regular Season.

Paris Basketball leaned on next-man-up mentality at Cedevita

Paris Basketball has not gone through much adversity so far this season in the BKT EuroCup, but the French team rose to the challenge against Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana with a next-man-up mentality, which helped it come away with [an important 77-93 road victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/paris-basketball-bounces-back-for-convincing-77-93-win-over-kk-cedevita-olimpija/) in Round 9.

Paris was without team captain Michael Kessens and assistant captain Sebastian Herrera for the game, yet the visitors managed to nevertheless bounce back from their first loss of the season last week against Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul.

“What I am very impressed \[with\] about this group is that they find a way to win. And they have the next-guy-up mentality,” said Paris head coach Tuomas Iisalo.

“That’s what you have to have if you want to be a good team and beat other good teams like Cedevita, who are way better than their record \[0-9\] suggests and have a lot of talent on their roster.”

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Le retour du WINNING FEELING en <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> 🖤❤️💙 <a href="https://t.co/Sbe0ebdye2">pic.twitter.com/Sbe0ebdye2</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1729945736106672398?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Sticking together and making an impact

Kessens had been averaging 4.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 14 minutes per game, while combo guard Herrera had been totaling 4.9 points on 35.5% three-point shooting, 1.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 20 minutes of action.

“It was super difficult. We’re down a couple of guys right now,” said TJ Shorts, who tallied 17 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals and his first block of the season.

“When you’re down you have to have the next-man-up mentality, and I think everybody in the locker room had that mentality. For 40 minutes we competed, we stuck to our identity and it resulted in a win.”

Cedevita's long quest for a maiden victory of the season moves to its latest chapter with the challenge of high-flying Paris, which is eager to recover from the blip of its first defeat of the campaign against Besiktas. The leading assisters are on show with Klemen Prepelic and TJ Shorts going head-to-head.

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-Paris Basketball | Round 9 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

### Surprise performers

Gauthier Denis stepped up with 3 important three-pointers for 9 points off the Paris bench. And 20-year-old big man Enzo Shahrvin picked up 4 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks in just 8 minutes before injuring his knee and not being able to return for the second half.

Coach Iisalo’s team was unable to pull away in the first 28 minutes, before finally putting together a big run to open some space.

“What helped us is that we have been turning these games into wins and that has created this collective confidence,” he added. “Whatever obstacles are thrown our way, we will find a way \[to win\].”

More Paris News

Paris Basketball head coach Tuomas Iisalo speaks with his players during a timeout in his team's win against Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in Round 9 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

Several role players stepped up to help the French side win in Round 9.

Paris leaned on next-man-up mentality at Cedevita

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Paris Basketball (2023-11-29T17:30:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca and BC Lietkabelis took part in an historic offensive shootout in Round 9 of the 2023-24 EuroCup Regular Season.

U-BT Cluj-Napoca, BC Lietkabelis set scoring records in Round 9 clash

In arguably one of the best BKT EuroCup games in recent history, [U-BT Cluj-Napoca downed 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 120-111](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/cluj-holds-off-lietkabelis-in-ot-120-111/) at home in overtime to go up to 7-2 in the standings, setting several club records in the process. 

Cluj shattered the club's scoring record, breaking the 100-point mark for the first time, while its 120 points are the seventh-best scoring mark in competition history. ALBA Berlin recorded the highest-ever total with 141 points in its classic five-overtime showdown against Bosna Sarajevo on December 4, 2007. Cluj set club records in free throws made (26) and attempted (37), too.

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Well worked victory!👏👏👏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/eurocup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#eurocup</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cluj?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cluj</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/haideU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#haideU</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BKTEuroCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BKTEuroCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/4ElE2WI3h3">https://t.co/4ElE2WI3h3</a></p>&mdash; U-BT Cluj-Napoca (@UBTCluj) <a href="https://twitter.com/UBTCluj/status/1729955679555719646?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Lietkabelis finished the game with 111 points, also a new club record. Its best scoring mark until now was the 104 points it scored against Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana on November 30, 2022. Lietkabelis set a new EuroCup season high for the most free throws attempted (43) and made (35). Those 43 free throws attempted are the most by a team in a EuroCup game since Cedevita Zagreb went to the line 48 times in a 102-109 road victory against ALBA Berlin on November 14, 2018.

### Even more records were set

Both teams combined for 231 points, the most ever for a game that went to single overtime. It ties for fourth place in the EuroCup's single-game all-time scoring charts, level with Lukoil Academic's 116-115 win against Zagreb in triple overtime on November 11, 2003. 

ALBA and Bosna combined for 268 points in their five-overtime classic. Dreamland Gran Canaria vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (257 points) and ALBA vs. Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius (239) are ahead of this game in terms of combined scoring, but they went to triple and double overtime, respectively.

Following defeat to Gran Canaria, Cluj endeavour to restore winning-ways and regain ground when they entertain a flourishing Lietkabelis roster, which have won three European outings in succession. Can the Romanians get closer to the summit or will the visitors resume their rise?

U-BT Cluj-Napoca-7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys | Round 9 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

Three players per team scored 20 points or more in the contest between Cluj and Lietkabelis, too. D.J. Seeley paced the winners with 25 points, while Emanuel Cate and Jarell Eddie each added 20. Deividas Sirvydis led Lietkabelis with 29 points, Gediminas Orelik added 22 and Martynas Varnas had 20. 

All in all, it was a high-scoring game that the fans inside BT-Arena will never, ever forget!

More Cluj News

Bryce Jones of U-BT Cluj-Napoca looks to score against 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys in Round 9 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

The two teams could only be separated after overtime.

Cluj, Lietkabelis set scoring records in Round 9 clash

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2023-11-29T17:00:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball got back to winning ways by downing KK Cedevita Olimpija in Round 9 of the 2023-24 EuroCup Regular Season.

Paris Basketball bounces back for convincing 77-93 win over KK Cedevita Olimpija

Paris Basketball bounced back from its first loss of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup season and eventually pulled away from Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana for a 77-93 road victory to remain top of the Group A standings. Cedevita remains winless after nine rounds.

Paris put the game away with a 4-15 run spanning the final two quarters, as it moved to 8-1 at the halfway point in the regular season. TJ Shorts paced the Parisian side with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals, Nadir Hifi scored 15 points, Tyson Ward had 12 and Collin Malcolm and Leon Kratzer both chipped in 10 points apiece. Cedevita set a club record with 31 made free throws but that wasn’t enough, as it fell to 0-9 and is the only winless team in the competition. Justin Cobbs was Cedevita’s leading scorer with 18 points and DJ Stewart added 17 points in the defeat.

Game News

### Cedevita had a slender first-quarter lead

Cedevita grabbed 3 offensive rebounds to lead 3-2 in the first 2 minutes. Paris’s offense started to get rolling with Ward scoring 6 points in a 2-8 spurt to go up 5-10. The hosts reeled off the next 11 points – including a four-point play by Jaka Blazic – to move back ahead, 16-10. Paris would trim the gap to 18-17 and two Enzo Shahrvin scores evened the game at 23-23. A Cobbs three-pointer helped Cedevita lead 26-25 after 10 minutes.

 

### Paris wrestled back control

Cedevita got most of its production from the free-throw line while the game saw 3 lead changes and 3 ties until 5 quick points from Hifi put Paris up 31-36. More free throws from the home side – Cedevita moved to 16-of-20 through 17 minutes – made it 36-38. Then, 3 more Cobbs free throws trimmed it into 39-40. Gauthier Denis answered with a three-pointer and Ward helped extend the lead to 41-47. And the score was 44-48 at the intermission.

Game Videos

### Paris kept Cedevita at arm’s length

Paris scored on three straight possessions and led 48-54 early in the third quarter. Driving layups by Shorts and Mehdy Ngouama put the guests up 51-58 and Malcolm made it double figures for the first time at 52-62. Cedevita would not go away and Klemen Prepelic’s three-pointer, along with Shawn Jones’ layup, had the hosts down just 61-65. And the Paris lead was 61-67 with 10 minutes to play.

 

### Paris pulled away late

Shorts blocked a shot and Kratzer scored 4 points to put Paris ahead 61-71. A couple of Mikael Jantunen free throws extended the advantage to a game-high 11 points, 64-75, with 7 minutes to go. Denis added a second three-pointer and Paris led comfortably 65-80 with under 5 minutes to play. Denis and Ngouama both knocked down three-pointers to keep Cedevita’s comeback hopes on ice for good at 72-88.

TJ Shorts of Paris Basketball gets away from Justin Cobbs of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in Round 9 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

The French side battled well with the Slovenian hosts before pulling away late on.

Paris bounces back for convincing 77-93 win over Cedevita

In a high-scoring battle that went to overtime, U-BT Cluj-Napoca returned to winning ways in Group B by topping 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 120-111 at BT-Arena on Wednesday. Cluj improved to 7-2 in Group B while Lietkabelis dropped to 4-5 and saw its three-game winning streak come to an end. 

Cluj holds off Lietkabelis in OT, 120-111! 

With the win Cluj improved to 7-2 in Group B while Lietkabelis dropped to 4-5 and saw its three-game winning streak come to an end.  D.J. Seeley paced the winners with 25 points. Emanuel Cate and Jarell Eddie each added 20, Patrick Richard had 16 while Andrija Stipanovic got 14 for Cluj. Deividas Sirvydis led Lietkabelis with 29 points. Gediminas Orelik added 22, Martynas Varnas had 20, Gabrielius Maldunas 16 and Liutauras Lelevicius 10 for the guests.

### Varnas was Lietkabelis's X-factor

Cate dunked and Seeley struck from downtown for a 5-0 Cluj lead. Orelik and Sirvydis fueled an 0-8 run that put Lietkabelis in charge, 5-8. Cate got help from Eddie and Bryce Jones to put Cluj back in charge, 16-10. Varnas stepped up with 6 quick points that helped the guests tie it at 16-16. Lelevicius hit a corner triple to give Lietkabelis a 21-23 lead after 10 minutes.

### Late 13-2 put Cluj ahead

Stipanovic scored twice in the paint and Adam Mokoka dunked in traffic in a 6-0 run that prompted a Lietkabelis timeout at 27-25. Maldunas followed a layup with an off-balance jump hook for a 29-31 Lietkabelis lead. Stipanovic and Brown kept pushing Cluj and Eddie's triple put the hosts ahead, 36-34. Cate and Karel Guzman kept their team in charge and Seeley's three-pointer fixed the halftime score at 44-36.

### Cluj took off

Eddie struck from beyond the arc to make it a double-digit game, 47-36, right after the break. Orelik rescued Lietkabelis with back-to-back triples but an unstoppable Cate kept the hosts way ahead, 58-48. Eddie and Richard each joined the three-point shootout for a 64-53 score. Guzman ignited the crowd with a huge dunk and Stipanovic added a three-point play in an 8-0 run that broke the game open, 74-59, at the end of the third quarter.

### Down to the wire!

Sirvydis and Varnas tried to ignite Lietkabelis's comeback, bringing the guests within 79-72 with over 6 minutes remaining. Lelevicius struck from downtown to get Lietkabelis even closer, 82-77. Richard rescued Cluj with 4 quick points but Varnas and Orelik made it 87-86 with 2:22 left. Orelik hit a three-pointer and Maldunas's reverse layup tied it a 92-92 with 55 seconds remaining. Seeley made free throws and Orelik's layup with a three-pointer for a 97-94 Cluj lead with 15.6 seconds left in regulation. Sirvydis drew a three-point shooting foul and all free throws for a 97-97 tie. Richard missed from downtown at the buzzer.

### Seeley seals the win

Seeley kept leading Cluj early in overtime but Orelik and Maldunas kept the guests close, 102-101. Stipanovic took over with a tip-in, Varnas split free throws and Sirvydis tied it again, 104-104. Mokoka hit a critical three-pointer, then Seeley hit foul shots and erased Orelik's triple with his own shot from downtown. Dziugas Slavinskas dunked and Eddie sealed the outcome from beyond the arc.

In a high-scoring overtime thriller, U-BT Cluj-Napoca outlasted 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 120-111 at BT-Arena.

Cluj holds off Lietkabelis in OT, 120-111

Who's hot: Kyle Alexander, Hapoel

The 27-year-old big man [Kyle Alexander](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kyle-alexander/011973/) has been a consistent, productive and, at times, dominant presence under the rims on both ends of the floor for Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (5-2).

Ever since making his competition debut in Round 3, Hapoel center has been one of EuroCup's best rebounders.

Alexander averages 8.5 rebounds for the season, having pulled down at least 6 boards in each of his six appearances. Over the last five games, Alexander ranks fifth in the competition with 51 total boards, good for a 10.2 average.

Alexander has been a force under both rims. He ranks third in the EuroCup with 6.0 defensive rebounds per game, but he has also been giving Hapoel's offense second-chance opportunities with 2.5 offensive rebounds on average.

He has shined especially in the rebounding department in Rounds 4 and 5, when he first had 10 rebounds in a win at Veolia Towers Hamburg and then topped it with 13 to help beat London Lions a week later.

The 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season is reaching its halfway point this week, and one of the players who got hot over the recent weeks is Hapoel center Kyle Alexander.

In his first three appearances this season, Alexander averaged 5.7 points on 50.0% shooting. However, in the last three, he has started putting the ball in the basket, too.

Since Round 6, Alexander is averaging 14.0 points and has improved his tallies each week. He first scored 12 points against Paris Basketball in Round 6, followed by scoring 13 points vs. Prometey Slobozhanske in Round 7, before finishing with 17 points last week against Joventut Badalona.

What has been really impressive is that Alexander has done so on 69.6% two-point accuracy despite an increased volume of shots.

Only three EuroCup players have made more two-point shots than Alexander's  16-for-23 over the latest three-game span. In addition, has been perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line, additionally proving how confident he has been feeling shooting the ball.

Alexander's scoring has helped Hapoel's offense keep humming at a historic rate. It's current 97.9-points average is at least 5 points better than any team in the competition history.

Hapoel and Alexander will have it tough to keep those numbers ticking over in Round 9, when they welcome the EuroLeague-best defense of Besiktas Emlak jet Istanbul (7-1), which allows just 72.5 points per contest.

As the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season reaches its halfway, one of the hotter players in the recent weeks is Hapoel center Kyle Alexander.

Yogi Ferrell, a player with 268 games of experience in the NBA, has signed for Buducnost VOLI in the EuroCup.

Yogi Ferrell adds to the options of Buducnost VOLI

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica has announced the signing of [Yogi Ferrell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/yogi-ferrell/011281/). Ferrell (1.82 meters, 30 years old) most recently played in China for the Shanghai Sharks, averaging 15.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.2 steals in nine Chinese League games. He returns to the BKT EuroCup after playing in the competition in each of the last two seasons. The guard joins a Buducnost side hoping to build on its 3-5 start to the 2023-24 campaign.

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Jogi Ferel je plavo-bijeli, stigao u Podgoricu! 🔵⚪️<a href="https://t.co/ip9we28E0F">https://t.co/ip9we28E0F</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HukMora%C4%8De?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HukMorače</a> <a href="https://t.co/VtgateuTjr">pic.twitter.com/VtgateuTjr</a></p>&mdash; KK Budućnost VOLI (@KKBuducnostVOLI) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKBuducnostVOLI/status/1729812514790130080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Making his mark in the EuroCup

Over the last couple of seasons, in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns, Ferrell showed that he can score at a decent clip in the EuroCup with Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana.

In the second half of the 2021-22 season, Ferrell posted 15.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists and a 17.7 PIR in 15 games as Cedevita reached the EuroCup Quarterfinals. Then, in the 2022-23 campaign, he averaged 18.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists and a 21.4 PIR, although Cedevita finished bottom of Group A with a 3-15 record.

The top plays of Yogi Ferrell for Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 BKT EuroCup seasons.

Yogi Ferrell's best EuroCup plays

### Plenty of NBA experience

Ferrell played a total of 259 games in the NBA across five seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, the Brooklyn Nets, the Sacramento Kings, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Clippers. Across those 259 appearances, he averaged 7.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He played nine games in the NBA Playoffs in the 2020-21 season for the Clippers, too.

The best performances in Ferrell’s NBA career came during his time with Dallas, as he averaged 11.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 36 games in the 2016-17 season before posting 10.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 82 appearances in the 2017-18 campaign.

More Buducnost News

New Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade signing Yogi Ferrell in action for Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in the 2022-23 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

The 30-year-old has returned to the BKT EuroCup

Yogi Ferrell signs for Buducnost

Youth will be served when Ulm and Bourg clash on Wednesday to hold on to a share of second place in Group B.

Ulm vs. Bourg: Rising stars take the stage

Round 9 of the BKT EuroCup Regular Season bring an exciting showdown between two of the youngest and most fun-to-watch teams in the competition. [ratiopharm Ulm (6-2) welcomes Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (6-2)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/ratiopharm-ulm-mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/U2023/86/) in a battle for second place in Group B in which U-BT Cluj-Napoca (6-2) is also involved. Remember: Starting the season, the best two teams in each group qualify directly to the EuroCup Quarterfinals.

Bourg looks for its first victory against Ulm after four consecutive losses over the last two years. Last season, Ulm beat Bourg at home, 110-98, and on the road, 78-85.

A run-and-gun game is expected at Ratiopharm Arena. Both teams take a lot of three-point shots: [Ulm attempts 29.9 shots  from the arc per night](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/stats/key-stats-teams/?size=1000&misc=&seasonCode=U2023&category=FieldGoalsAttempted3&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=perGame), trailing only Dolomiti Energia Trento (31.5), and Bourg takes over 25 three-point shots per night (25.3). [Ulm (39.3% 3FG) and Bourg (39.1% 3FG) rank fourth and fifth](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/stats/key-stats-teams/?size=1000&misc=&seasonCode=U2023&category=FieldGoals3Percent&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=perGame), respectively, in three-point shooting percentage. Last season in Ulm, these teams combined for 62 three-point attempts.

There are many young players to follow in this game, which makes it even more attractive to basketball fans out there.

Kevin Kokila and Zaccharie Risacher are two of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse's pillars this season.

Kokila, Risacher play key role in Bourg

### Ulm: Nunez, Williams are main pillars

For Ulm, [Juan Nunez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/juan-nunez/010106/) has been outstanding lately and has quickly become one of the best point guards in the competition. At age 19, Nunez is showing great improvement all around, getting more active on defense and shooting the ball much better. He went from a respectable 36.1% three-point shooting percentage last season to 47.4% in this one, and has doubled his average to rank [third overall at 2.2 steals per night](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=U2023&statisticMode=perGame&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=steals).

Nunez missed a couple of games due to injury and has been particularly solid since his return, scoring in double digits in each of his last four showdowns. During that time, he has averaged 12.8 points on 66.7% shooting from downtown, 5.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 3.3 steals and a PIR of 20.3. [Nunez ranks fourth in assists this season at 6.2 per night](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=U2023&statisticMode=perGame&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=assistances) to go with 10.5 points and 4.0 rebounds.

At age 23, [Trevion Williams](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/trevion-lamon-williams-/012604/) is already Ulm's next top-class elite big man. Williams has posted four double-doubles in seven games and [leads the competition in rebounds at 10.9 per night](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=U2023&statisticMode=perGame&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=totalRebounds). He has been extremely effective inside (68.8% 2FG) and outside the arc (45.5% 3FG) while averaging 15.0 points, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals. As such, [Williams is the EuroCup's PIR leader](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/stats/expanded/?size=1000&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=U2023&statisticMode=perGame&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=valuation) so far this season (23.6).

Trevion Williams and Juan Nunez are two of the best players in the BKT EuroCup this season.

Williams, Nunez: young strars in Ulm

### Bourg's young players step up

Bourg has its fair share of successful young players, starting by top-class prospect [Zaccharie Risacher](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/zaccharie-risacher/010718/), who is showing superstar potential at age 18. Risacher is averaging 13.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.9 blocks and a PIR of 11.6, [ranking fifth overall in three-point shooting accuracy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/stats/expanded/?size=1000&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=U2023&statisticMode=perGame&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=fieldGoals3Percent) (58.3%). His matchup against athletic forward [Karim Jallow](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/karim-jallow/005422/) should be one of this game's highlights.

Williams will not have it easy against 22-year-old center [Kevin Kokila](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kevin-kokila/011837/), who has shown great improvement from last season. A great finisher around the rim due to his good hands and physicality, Kokila averages 7.2 points on 64.1% shooting, 5.6 rebounds and a PIR of 9.5 in 21 minutes per night. Last season, with half of his current playing time, Kokila averaged 3.2 points and 2.4 rebounds.

Unfortunately, [Hugo Benitez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/hugo-benitez/010449/) is out with a broken foot and his matchup against Nunez will have to wait. At age 22, Benitez averages 9.8 points and 6.5 assists in 4 games. He had 26 assists and just 2 turnovers this season!

All these young talents are expected to take center stage on Wednesday night, in a game that has everything it takes to be a great showdown. Ulm and Bourg will be on the floor at Ratiopharm Arena on Wednesday at 19:30 CET.

ratiopharm Ulm v Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (2023-11-29T18:30:00.000Z)

Despite letting a 20-point lead wither to 2, Slask held on to snap a record losing streak.

Slask bent but did not break in character victory

Slask Wroclaw would not have been blamed if it had caved in to the pressure of the home side Turk Telekom Ankara making a big comeback. But the Polish club responded in a strong fashion unexpected from a team on the BKT EuroCup’s worst-ever losing streak and grabbed the win. 

Slask watched a 20-point lead with 11 minutes left in the game get trimmed to 2 points with 5 minutes to go. But Jacek Winnicki’s team did not break and [grabbed a 71-80 win against the 2023 EuroCup runner-up](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/turk-telekom-ankara-slask-wroclaw/U2023/90/).

“I am very very happy with this win. We showed character. We played from the beginning to the end of the game,” said the Slask coach, whose team moved to 1-8 in Group B. “The most important thing for me as a coach and for us as a team is when the situation got tough and they cut the lead to 2 points with 5 minutes left we responded in a good tough way. We did not break.”

Slask came into the game without a victory this season and having lost 17 straight EuroCup games dating back to Round 9 from last season on December 21, 2022. The victory also ended the EuroCup all-time record of 26 consecutive road losses. Slask's last win away from home in the competition came on December 11, 2007.

Either Turk Telekom or Slask are to finally celebrate the end of a long losing run in a game that may be already destinated as a bid to avoid the wooden spoon in Group B.

Turk Telekom Ankara-Slask Wroclaw | Round 9 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

“It was a long time coming for this first win. We are going to enjoy this one,” said Jakub Niziol, who set a career-high with 25 points and was also on the Slask team that last won a game in the EuroCup. 

Slask played strong offense and solid defense and built a 40-60 lead late in the third quarter. Turk Telekom raced back into the game and the deficit was just 64-66 with the home fans in the game. 

But Winnicki was satisfied with how his team remained composed amid the pressure.

“We responded with patient offense. We created good shots and made those shots and after that, we started to control the game again,” said the coach. 

Hassani Gravett was key to that answer as the Slask guard drained 3 three-pointers and scored 12 of his 15 points in the final 5 minutes to make sure that Slask would come back home as a winner - for the first time in some time.

Turk Telekom Ankara v Slask Wroclaw (2023-11-28T17:00:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venice showed just how strong it can be with an arousing second quarter in a convincing 94-77 victory over Veolia Towers Hamburg. 

Marco Spissu: 'We can be a problem for every team'

Umana Reyer Venice showed just how strong it can be with an arousing second quarter in a convincing 94-77 victory over Veolia Towers Hamburg.

Reyer blew the game wide open with a 31-17 second quarter as the Italian side won its third game in the last four to move to 4-5 on the fringes of the playoff ranks in Group A.

“We deserved to win this game... I think we were the better team. We had a lot of good minutes but we also had a lot of mistakes,” said Reyer head coach Neven Spahija.

Reyer came into the game allowing the second-fewest offensive rebounds to its opponents. But Hamburg grabbed 12 offensive rebounds - 3.1 more than Reyer’s average.

“They were very aggressive and had 12 offensive rebounds. That is the only thing we did not control today. The other parts of the game we did well, we controlled them. And the end of the second quarter was spectacular,” the coach said.

Marco Spissu led the way against Hamburg

The game had been tight for the first 15 minutes and the home side led 36-33. Spahija’s men then unleashed a 17-0 run over the next 4:34 minutes to take control of the game with a 53-33 lead. The surge included 3 Reyer three-pointers and 4 forced Hamburg turnovers.

All five Reyer starters scored in double figures - paced by [Marco Spissu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/marco-spissu/004381/)’s 22 points - and the team dished out 24 assists in shooting 63.9% on two-pointers and 40.9% on three-pointers.

“This was a team win. They were playing really tough defense. We built the gap in the second quarter and in the end, we just managed the game but also did well playing the game,” said Spissu, who also dished a career-high 9 assists and posted a season-best PIR of 32 in the game.

The point guard said this is how the team wants to play - and how it can achieve its goals.

"We just need to play together. If we play together like this, we can be a problem for every team. We need to keep going,” Spissu said.

The Reyer playmaker dished a career-best 9 assists and posted a season-high PIR of 32 in the win. 

Marco Spissu, Reyer: 'We can be a problem for every team'

Umana Reyer Venice v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2023-11-28T19:00:00.000Z)