Andres Feliz scored a game-winning floater as Joventut Badalona beat the London Lions 80-82 in Round 15 of the 2023-24 EuroCup season.

Joventut Badalona locks up playoff spot by downing the London Lions at the buzzer, 80-82

Joventut Badalona has booked its place in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Playoffs after defeating the London Lions 80-82 at Copper Box Arena in Round 15. Carles Duran’s side has now won seven straight games to improve to a 10-5 record, while London dropped to the same mark in defeat.

Vladimir Brodziansky paced Joventut with a team-high 14 points, followed by Tyler Cook with 13, Shannon Evans with 12, and Ante Tomic and Pep Busquets on 10 apiece. For London, Matt Morgan netted a game-high 20 points. David Nwaba added 14, Donte Grantham had 11 and Gabe Olaseni contributed 10.

Game News

Joventut had a strong start and opened a 0-9 lead on the back of 5 points by Pep Busquets. London finally got on the board just over 2 minutes in as Olaseni netted from mid-range, 2-9. Evans then erupted for 5 quick points to put Joventut in the driving seat early on, 2-14. The hosts began to grow into the game, with Matt Morgan netting 5 points as London cut the gap to 11-21. After 10 minutes, Joventut led 14-23.

London began the second quarter with a Nwaba three-point play and a Josh Sharma layup, which came after an impressive steal by the London center, as the deficit was reduced to 4 points, 19-23. However, Joventut soon hit back through Cook, Brodziansky and Andrews as the visitors made it a double-digit ballgame again, 21-31. Conor Morgan netted a triple as London began to put pressure on Joventut, 29-33, but another three by Brodziansky and a floater by Michael Ruzic made it 29-38. At halftime, the score was 30-40 in the visitors' favor.

Game Videos

Joventut refused to let London make it a close ballgame to start the second half, with Evans scoring a floater and Brodziansky responding to a Grantham three by making one of his own, 33-45. Despite London often hitting back, with Olaseni scoring from mid-range and Matt Morgan netting a fastbreak layup, 37-45, Joventut always had a response. Brodziansky struck again from deep and Tomic got the shooter’s roll as Joventut made it a 13-point game, 37-50. That trend continued in the remainder of the period, but 4 straight points from Tarik Phillip to end the quarter saw London trail Joventut 55-63 entering the fourth.

After scoring the last 4 points of the third, London continued its momentum in the fourth by going on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to 2 points, 61-63. Andrews replied from mid-range, 61-65, but Matt Morgan completed a four-point play to make it 65-65. Busquets then put Joventut back ahead, 65-67, before Nwaba’s put-back tap-in tied it up again, 67-67. However, Tomic, Feliz and Busquets all scored in a 0-7 run as Joventut regained its advantage, 67-74. London just wouldn’t go away, though, and tied the game for the third time in the quarter after a couple of free throws by Matt Morgan and a Grantham triple, 76-76. Andrews immediately replied with an off-balanced three from the corner, 76-79, but Phillips went 2-for-2 to set a 78-79 score with 1:03 remaining. Feliz later went 1-for-2 with 14 seconds left, 78-80, before Matt Morgan’s layup levelled things at 80-80 with 5 seconds to go. But, with the last action of the game, Feliz scored a floater to ensure Joventut got the win and officially booked its place in the EuroCup Playoffs.

Andrew Andrews of Joventut Badalona has possession against the London Lions in Round 15 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

Andres Feliz’s floater ensured the Spanish side came away with a crucial win.

Joventut locks up playoff spot by downing London at the buzzer, 80-82

London Lions v Joventut Badalona (2024-01-17T19:30:00.000Z)

Bourg cruises past Lietkabelis, 104-71, to move atop Group B

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse got back to winning ways by thrashing 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 104-71 at Ekinox in Round 15 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season. The hosts were in control throughout the game and outscored Lietkabelis in three of the four quarters to secure a convincing home victory. Bourg improved to a 12-3 on the season and, when Dreamland Gran Canaria lost later in the evening, moved alone atop the group standings, while Lietkabelis dropped to 5-10, currently sitting two wins outside the playoff zone with three games to go.

Zaccharie Risacher led all scorers with 22 points and Maksim Salash scored 16, all of which came in the last quarter. Bryce Brown and Isiaha Mike had 15 points each and Jeremy Morgan recorded 11. For Lietkabelis, Nikola Popovic bagged 19 points and Deividas Sirvydis netted 15.

Mike opened the scoring with a powerful slam before Sirvydis and Risacher traded triples at 7-5. Risacher took his tally to 7 early points with a coast-to-coast slam and a fading jumper for a 9-0 Bourg run, 13-5. Morgan drilled a triple to extend his team’s lead to double digits, but Sirvydis nailed his second three-pointer of the night, 18-9. Then, a Popovic bucket, 3 Vytenis Lipkevicius free throws and a Stefan Bircevic triple after a smooth team move brought Lietkabelis within 20-17.

Despite Lietkabelis’s surge late in the first quarter, the hosts took a 5-point cushion into the second, but Lipkevicius and Dovis Bickauskis nailed a triple each to put the guests ahead, 22-23. Bodian Massa and Earl Rowland netted back-to-back buckets that were followed by 5 Brown points for a 9-0 Bourg run and a 31-23 lead. Baskets from Lipkevicius and Sirvydis were followed by buckets from Dziugas Slavinskas and Popovic to bring the visitors within 33-31 midway through the second quarter. But Bourg responded with a Mike layup and Risacher’s second dunk of the night to make it 37-31. A couple of Mike baskets were followed by another one from Rowland before Lipkevicius was ejected after committing his second unsportsmanlike foul in the first half, with Bourg heading into the second half up 47-36.

Risacher hit back-to-back triples to take his tally to 17 points in less than 12 minutes on the floor, but Sirvydis’s third three-pointer of the night was followed by a Popovic put-back, 53-41. Popovic scored 4 points, but Mike responded with a triple before the former completed a three-point play, 58-48. Bickauskis and Gediminas Orelik sank one from deep each, but Brown hit one of his own to restore Bourg’s double-digit cushion, 66-55. A Jequan Lewis bucket was followed by a Brown three-pointer in transition before Sirvydis drilled another triple, 71-60, just before the third-quarter buzzer.

Bourg opened the closing quarter with 4 unanswered Maksim Salash points, an Axel Julien triple and a Brown layup in transition to extend the French side’s lead to 80-60 with 7 minutes left on the clock. The hosts stayed in cruise control for the remainder of the fourth quarter, where they outscored Lietkabelis 33-11 to clinch a comfortable win.

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse v 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2024-01-17T18:30:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca rallied from 18 points down to beat ratiopharm Ulm 81-85 on the road and guarantee a top-four finish in Group B and at least a home game in the eighthfinals. 

Cluj rallies from 18 points to beat Ulm 81-85 and secure a home playoff game

U-BT Cluj-Napoca rallied from 18 points down to beat ratiopharm Ulm 81-85 on the road and guarantee a top-four finish in Group B and at least a home game in the eighthfinals. Cluj was down 62-44, but gained control of the game with a 6-24 fourth-quarter run to improve to 11-4. 

Patrick Richard scored 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and Bryce Jones added 12 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists for the winning side. Ulm’s freefall continued with a fourth straight defeat to drop to 8-7. LJ Figueroa scored 17 points, Juan Nunez had 15 points and Trevion Williams collected 10 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists in the losing effort.

Figueroa drained 2 three-pointers and 2 free throws for the first 8 points of the game. Cluj followed with the next 8 points to even the game only to see Figueroa hit another triple and Karim Jallow throw down a dunk for the first points by another Ulm player and a 13-10 lead. Georginho de Paula also sank a triple and Figueroa added foul shots and a dunk for 15 points already to put Ulm up 22-13. The hosts were ahead 24-17 after 10 minutes.

Ulm failed to score in the first 2 minutes of the second quarter and Cluj cut the gap to 24-21. Thomas Klepeisz answered with 2 triples, Georginho added a second three-pointer and Ulm’s leading scorer Williams finally scored with 5 points to put Ulm up 38-25. Cluj forced Ulm turnovers and trimmed the gap to 42-34. But DJ Seeley was then ejected from the game with a disqualifying foul for stepping on Klepeisz with 1:29 minutes left in the first half. Ulm extended the cushion to 48-34 and led 51-36 at the break.

Jallow started the second half and the lead grew to 53-36. Jones scored three points to trim the gap to 14 points and a Jarell Eddie triple had Cluj within 57-44. Ulm was still leading 62-44 but Mihai Maciuca hit a three-pointer and Richard converted a layup to get the advantage down to 63-52. Klepeisz and Richard swapped triples and the hosts led 66-55 after 30 minutes.

After a Williams basket to open the final frame for a 68-55 cushion, Richard converted a four-point play and a layup and followed with 3 more free throws in a 0-11 run to make it 68-66 with more than 7 minutes to go. Nunez stopped the run with a layup for the home side only to see Mareks Mejeris nail a triple. Richard added another three-pointer and Karel Guzman made free throws to give Cluj the lead 74-79 with 4 minutes to play. Nunez followed with the next 4 points but missed the bonus free throw, unable to even the game with 126 seconds remaining. Jones countered with a jumper, steal and 2 free throws as Cluj went ahead 78-83 with 47 seconds on the clock. After Nunez made 2 free throws, Jones committed a turnover with Williams making only one foul shot and Richard finished the deal with 2 more free throws with 16 seconds left for an 81-85 lead.

ratiopharm Ulm v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2024-01-17T18:30:00.000Z)

Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul punched its ticket to the playoffs by downing Veolia Hamburg Towers 83-94 in overtime at Edel-Optics.De Arena in Round 15 on Wednesday. Besiktas, pushed by hundreds of fans in this road game, improved to 9-6 in the standings while Hamburg dropped to 2-13. 

Besiktas wins 83-94 in OT, reaches playoffs!

Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul punched its ticket to the playoffs by downing Veolia Hamburg Towers 83-94 after overtime at [Edel-Optics.De](http://Edel-Optics.De) Arena in Round 15 on Wednesday. Besiktas, pushed by hundreds of fans in this road game, improved to 9-6 in the standings while Hamburg dropped to 2-13.

Jonah Mathews paced the winners with 22 points, including 9 in overtime. Angel Delgado posted 17 points and 17 rebounds, Kerem Konan added 14 points and Kyle Allman 12 for Besiktas. Will Christmas led Hamburg with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Mark Hughes scored 18 points and VJ King had 12 for the hosts.

### Besiktas shakes off slow start

King struck from downtown and Seth Heinrichs added a layup-plus-foul in a 8-2 opening run. Berk Ugurlu scored twice in penetration and Delgado hit a jumper to tie it at 8-8. Delgado's tip-in soon gave Besiktas its first lead, 10-12. Lukas Meisner stepped up for Hamburg and then Aleksander Dziewa followed a jumper with a three-point play for a 19-19 tie after 10 minutes.

### The visitors take off

Delgado scored again, Allman swished a jumper and Mathews added a three-pointer that caused the hosts to call timeout at 23-28. Mathews followed a driving layup with another triple that made it a double-digit game, 23-33, after a 0-10 run. Allman and Ugurlu kept pushing Besiktas and Konan took over with a layup-plus-foul. Dziewa and Durham brought Hamburg within 31-44 at halftime.

### Hughes brings Hamburg closer

Mathews scored off a spin move right after the break and Konan added a tip-in and a three-pointer. Matthew Mitchell downed a fallaway jumper and Ugurlu sank one from beyond the arc to boost the lead to 42-59. Hughes stopped the show with a huge dunk and followed Christmas's basket with back-to-back triples to bring Hamburg within 58-62. Allman answered with a buzzer-beating three-pointer for a 58-65 score after 30 minutes.

### Down to the wire!

Derek Needham struck from beyond the arc early in the fourth quarter but so did Meisner for a 61-68 Hamburg deficit. Christmas kept pushing Hamburg with a couple of jumpers that made it 65-71. Konan dunked in traffic and Allman added a jumper to keep Besiktas out of trouble, 70-76, with over 2 minutes left. Hughes answered with a driving basket, then Christmas followed free throws with a layup off a steal for a 75-77 Hamburg deficit with 1:05 left. Mathews took over with a three-point play, King scored at the other end and when Allman missed, Christmas tied it with a big three-pointer, 80-80. Mathews missed from downtown at the end of regulation.

### Mathews wins it!

Konan scored in the paint early in overtime and Mathews added a driving layup for an 81-84 Besiktas lead. Mathews soon scored off the glass to prompt Hamburg to call timeout, 81-86, with over 2 minutes left. Mathews erased King's jumper with another driving layup and struck from downtown to seal the outcome, 83-91. Mathews rounded a perfect overtime by finding Delgado for a reverse layup, allowing Besiktas to seal its win in style!

Besiktas wins 83-94 in OT to reach the playoffs

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (2024-01-17T18:30:00.000Z)


Paris Basketball clinched first place in BKT EuroCup Group A with three games to spare and booked an early berth in the competition’s last eight with a comprehensive 86-104 road win over Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv on Wednesday. 

Paris clinches Group A after beating Hapoel, 86-104

Paris Basketball clinched first place in BKT EuroCup Group A with three games to spare and booked an early berth in the competition’s last eight with a comprehensive 86-104 road win over Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv on Wednesday. Paris improved to 14-1 and, having won its group, it is assured of a bye in the first knockout round and hence a quarterfinal spot. Second-placed Hapoel, which had earlier secured a playoff spot, dropped to 11-4 and still has work to do in order to snatch the group's runners-up spot, which would also punch the Israeli side's last-eight ticket.

A balanced team effort saw all 12 Paris players get on the scoreboard, led by TJ Shorts who capped a stellar performance with 20 points and 10 assists. Colin Malcolm posted 15 points for Paris, Tyson Ward had 13 and 7 assists, while big man Leon Kratzer racked up 12 points and 8 rebounds. Nadir Hifi chipped in with 11 points for the visitors.

Dez Wells paced Hapoel with 20 points and 6 rebounds, shooting 8-of-10 from the floor. Tomer Ginat and Xavier Munford netted 14 points each, Bar Timor scored 13 and Will Cummings added 10 points for the hosts, who are playing their home games in Belgrade’s Aleksandar Nikolic Hall.

The first quarter produced a balanced contest as the teams were tied 26-26 after the opening 10 minutes, with Ginat scoring 8 points for Hapoel and Wells adding as many in quick succession. The lead changed hands several times before a 0-7 run by Paris early in the second set the tone for the remainder of the fast-paced clash.

Paris pulled away into a 43-51 halftime lead as its quick transition caused all sorts of problems for Hapoel, with the home team struggling in the paint against its more athletic rival. Paris had racked up 22 boards by halftime and 7 of were them on the offensive end, while Hapoel only managed 10 in total, 2 of them on offense.

A fast start by Paris extended the visiting team’s lead to 47-61 early in the third quarter before Hapoel enjoyed its best spell of the game, engineering a 19-9 run which slashed the deficit to 66-70. That, however, turned out to be Hapoel’s last roar as Paris replied with a 0-8 run and then found another gear in the fourth quarter, carving out a 72-91 advantage which effectively forced the home side into submission.

The French side also secured a bye in the playoff eighthfinals with an emphatic road win over its closest rival. 

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Paris Basketball (2024-01-17T17:30:00.000Z)

Roberto Gallinat skied high in the final second of the game and threw down a put-back dunk with 0.8 seconds to go, lifting Aris Midea Thessaloniki to a thrilling 76-75 come-from-behind in over the visiting Buducnost VOLI Podgorica on Wednesday night. Aris improved to 7-8 record in a share of fifth place in Group B, and swept a head-to-head series with Buducnost, which in turn dropped to 6-9 record.

Last-second game-winner lifts Aris over Buducnost, 76-75

Roberto Gallinat skied high in the final second of the game and threw down a put-back dunk with 0.8 seconds to go to lift Aris Midea Thessaloniki to a thrilling 76-75 come-from-behind in over the visiting Buducnost VOLI Podgorica on Wednesday night. Aris improved to 7-8 for a share of fifth place in Group B and swept its head-to-head series with Buducnost, which in turn dropped to 6-9.

The visitors led by as many as 11 points in the third quarter, but Aris rallied and went in front in the fourth quarter behind three-pointers from Vassilis Toliopoulos and Ronnie Harrell. Buducnost restored the lead and had a chance to seal its win, but Aris made a defensive stand then had Gallinat come down with a last-second game-winner that inched the team closer to a place in the playoffs.

Toliopoulos led Aris with 20 points, and Gallinat finished with 14 in a winning effort. McKinley Wright led Buducnost with 14 points, Yogi Ferrell scored 13 and Nikola Tanaskovic had 10 in the loss.

Wright had a triple early for Buducnost, and Toliopoulos had one for the hosts to tie the game at 7-7. There were no long-range shots made the rest of the first quarter, as the teams struggled finding their offensive rhythm. Kris Bankston had a three-point play and Toliopoulos banked a jumper to help Aris open a 17-13 lead. However, the visitors did not allow a single bucket for more than 3 minutes to finish the opening quarter, making 5 of 6 free throws to hold a 17-18 lead after 10 minutes of play.

Toliopoulos and Ferrell traded threes early in the second, before Kenan Kamenjas, Ferrell, Yoan Makoundou and Wright all finished at the rim in a 0-11 run to open a 24-34 margin midway through the second. Aris was without a field goal for 4 and a half minutes before Roberts Blumbergs's transition triple cut it to 29-36. Now, Buducnost was struggling getting buckets, as Silvio De Sousa and Dimitris Katsivelis scored inside to make it 34-39 at halftime.

The game pace picked up in the second half. Brandon Paul and Eleftherios Bochoridis traded triples, before Tanaskovic pulled down 3 offensive boards, converting 2 of those into layups that helped open a 43-51 margin. A four-point play from Fletcher Magee opened a 45-55 margin. Gallinat answered with a three-pointer and assisted on an alley-oop dunk by De Sousa, but Kamenjas scored twice inside to help keep Buducnost up 54-63 after 30 minutes.

Ismael Sanogo opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer for the hosts. Ferrell and Harrell traded threes before Toliopoulos took it to the rim, cutting it to 63-66. Harrell's second three-pointer tied it at 66-66 with 5 minutes to go, and Toliopoulos got Aris back in front, 71-68, with a triple some 90 seconds later. But the visitors responded, a transition triple from Ferrell got them back ahead, 71-73. Toliopoulos immediately replied with another three of his own with 1:32 left. Jones scored from close range before the visitors made a defensive stand and had an offensive rebound. However, Aris had 8 seconds for its final possession in which Harrell missed a transition triple, but Gallinat rose high for a put-back dunk that gave Aris an important victory.

Aris Midea Thessaloniki v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2024-01-17T18:00:00.000Z)

Prometey Slobozhanske achieved its two goals in Round 15, downing Wolves Wilnius 91-64. Not only it got an important victory but by winning by such margin, it eliminated Wolves from the playoffs race. 


Prometey's defense tied EuroCup record

It is safe to say that defense led Prometey to this important victory. Its first-half was, indeed, record-breaking.

Wolves tied a EuroCup record for the most turnovers in a half by committing 18 before the break. Only one team had ever before made 18 turnovers: Guildford Heat in a 61-95 home loss against Joventut Badalona on November 13, 2007. Guildford went on to finish with 30 turnovers in that game and shares the record with Dynamo Moscow (2007) and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2003). Wolves had 10 turnovers and no offensive rebounds in the first quarter, after which Prometey led 29-15. At halftime, Prometey had a 49-29 margin despite missing 8 free throw attempts.

When the dust settled, Wolves had finished the game with 26 turnovers, the most of any team all season. It was also the first team to commit 26 turnovers since ratiopharm Ulm had that exact number in an 87-76 road loss at Virtus Segafredo Bologna on October 27, 2021. Six Wolves players had 3 turnovers or more.

Prometey Slobozhanske had 11 steals in Round 15 against Wolves Vilnius.

Prometey stole the show in Round 15

Prometey finished the game with 11 steals. The hosts also had 21 assists, which were 8 more than their opponent. It also outrebounded Wolves 37-31, grabbing 13 offensive boards and holding its opponent to get just 6 rebounds on the offensive end.

Three-point accuracy was the other key to the game, as Prometey shot much more from downtown and with far better success. The hosts downed 13 of 30 three-pointers (43.3% 3FG) and Wolves only made 6 of 20 attempts (30% 3FG). All of that together allowed Prometey to take an important step forward in the playoff race.

Prometey Slobozhanske achieved its two goals in Round 15. Not only did it take an important victory but by winning by such margin, it eliminated Wolves from the playoff race. 


Prometey Slobozhanske v Wolves Vilnius (2024-01-17T17:00:00.000Z)

Reyer Venezia beat KK Cedevita Olimpija 93-104 to keep its 2023-24 EuroCup playoff hopes alive.

Reyer Venezia comes out on top at KK Cedevita Olimpija, 93-104

Umana Reyer Venice grabbed a crucial 93-104 win at Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in Round 15 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season. This triumph improved Reyer to a 6-9 record and kept it in the race for the EuroCup Playoffs, while Cedevita is still winless at 0-15.

Rayjon Tucker paced Reyer with a game-high 24 points. Amedeo Tessitori added 17, Marco Spissu netted 14, and Mfiondu Kabengele and Kyle Wiltjer had 10 points apiece. For Cedevita, Karlo Matkovic had 23 points, Justin Cobbs scored 19, Jaka Blazic contributed 18, and Shawn Jones finished on 10.

The game got off to a perfect start for Reyer, as back-to-back triples by Tucker helped the visitors go 0-12 ahead. Cedevita finally got on the board with 6:28 to play in the first quarter after Cobbs had a three-point play, 3-12. Matkovic had a reverse dunk which got the fans off their seats, 5-14, but Tessitori kept dominating inside to keep Reyer in a comfortable position, 10-20. Wiltjer netted 5 straight points and Max Heiddeger beat the first-quarter buzzer as Reyer led 15-31 after the opening 10 minutes.

A three-point play by Tessitori and a triple by Wiltjer gave Reyer plenty of breathing room, 18-37, early in the second quarter. Cobbs and Matkovic combined for a high-flying alley-oop play, 20-37, but Heidegger’s corner three made it a 20-point ballgame, 20-40. From there, the Matkovic-led Cedevita fought back and refused to let Reyer run away with the contest. When Blazic converted a three-point play with 1:22 to go, Cedevita had reduced the gap to single digits for the first time since the first quarter, 44-53. Matkovic’s three-pointer and another big alley-oop dunk by the Croatian meant it was 49-56 at the break.

The battle continued in the third quarter, with an inspired Matkovic pulling Cedevita within 1 of Reyer, 56-57, on a three-pointer. The visitors responded with an Aamir Simms triple and a Davide Casarin layup, 56-62, but the hosts refused to let that crush their spirits. A Shawn Jones mid-range basket and a Nikola Radicevic three made it a 1-point ballgame again, 67-68, then Cedevita took its first lead of the game following a Blazic layup, 69-68. Spissu’s triple put Reyer back ahead, 69-71, with the visitors not trailing again in the remainder of the quarter as it finished 74-77 entering the fourth.

Things remained tight in the fourth quarter as Cedevita refused to let Reyer take control, with Skuca and Cobbs hitting back after baskets by Tessitori, Tucker and Wiltjer, 80-83. However, when Spissu scored a triple with 5:55 to go to put Reyer 81-88 ahead, Cedevita began to falter. Kabengele’s dunk made it a double-digit game again, 81-91. A few minutes later, a Tucker triple set an 85-98 score, before a dagger three by Spissu all but wrapped up the win, 91-101, with Reyer going on to win 93-104.

Umana Reyer Venice guard Marco Spissu gets a shot away against Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in Round 15 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

The Italian side's playoff hopes remain alive after winning in Ljubljana.

Reyer comes out on top at Cedevita, 93-104

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Umana Reyer Venice (2024-01-17T17:30:00.000Z)

Prometey Slobozhanske improved its chances to reach the BKT EuroCup playoffs in Group A by downing Wolves Vilnius 91-64 in Riga, Latvia in Round 15 on Wednesday. Prometey improved to 8-7 while Wolves dropped to 5-10 and is all but mathematically out of the playoffs race. 


Prometey overwhelms Wolves in Riga, 91-64! 

Prometey Slobozhanske improved its chances of reaching the BKT EuroCup Playoffs from Group A by downing Wolves Vilnius 91-64 in Riga, Latvia, in Round 15 on Wednesday. Prometey improved to 8-7 while Wolves dropped to 5-10 and were mathematically eliminated from the playoff race. 

Ronald March led Prometey with 16 points. Oleksandr Lypovyy and Illia Sydorov each added 13 while Tai Odiase, Caleb Agada and Issuf Sanon had 10 apiece for Prometey. Jeffery Taylor paced Wolves with a EuroCup career-high 18 points. Garrison Brooks added 14 for the visitors.

### Prometey builds a double-digit lead

Kristupas Zemaitis got Wolves going with a three-pointer. Gian Clavell answered from downtown and Ondrej Balvin dunked for a 5-3 Prometey lead. Lypovyy made a triple and got help from Clavell and March, prompting Wolves to call timeout at 16-9. Odiase dunked and Sanon capped a 10-0 run with a bomb from beyond the arc. Odiase added a couple of jump hooks and another dunk before Sanon's driving layup fixed the score at 29-15 after 10 minutes.

### Hosts took off

Taylor followed a jumper with a three-pointer to give Wolves hope, 32-20, early in the second quarter. Rasheed Sulaimon swished a jumper to bring the visitors within single digits, 32-23. Balvin rescued Prometey once Wolves got into the foul penalty, and Sydorov made consecutive triples to establish a 41-27 margin. A red-hot Sydorov followed a baseline jumper with this third three-pointer to break the game open, 49-29, at halftime.

### Wolves bit back

Agada made a jumper right after the break and Lypovyy struck from downtown to make it a 25-point game, 56-31. Taylor and Tre'Shawn Thurman tried to change things for Wolves, combining for 7 points in a 1-9 run that got the visitors within 57-40. Eigirdas Zukauskas and Vitalijus Kozys each added a three-pointer that got Wolves even closer, 60-50. Lypovvy dunked, Sydorov hit a jumper and March made back-to-back triples for a 70-52 Prometey lead after 30 minutes.

### Prometey gave no option

The outcome was clear but both teams kept fighting for the tie-break advantage, as Wolves had registered a 14-point victory against Prometey in Round 6. Sanon followed a three-pointer with a driving layup and March added a coast-to-coast layup to restore a 25-point Prometey lead, 77-52. March dunked and Lypovyy's three-pointer sealed the outcome, 82-55, as Wolves never got close to that 14-point margin.

The Lithuanian side is officially out of the playoff race following this defeat.