The principality side coasted to a comfortable win on the back of a strong second half performance
Monaco makes light work of Virtus, 101-85
Game Report
3 Mins read
AS Monaco breezed to a 101-85 home victory over Virtus Segafredo Bologna in Round 4 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, improving its record to 3-1 after high-scoring guard Mike James finally served up a vintage performance with 19 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds.
Elie Okobo paced the home team with a game-high 20 points, Mam Jaiteh chipped in with 15 and 7 boards while Vitto Brown amassed 14 points and 4 rebounds. Matthew Strazel netted 12 points and Jordan Loyd added 11 to underline a flowing team effort from Monaco, which found another gear in the second half after trailing 46-47 at the interval.
At the other end, Toko Shengelia stood out for Virtus with 17 points, Momo Diouf scored 12 while Matt Morgan and Isaia Cordinier netted 11 each for the visitors, who remain rooted to the bottom of the standings after suffering a fourth successive defeat.
Virtus, the only winless team in the competition, made a bright start and led 20-24 at the end of the first quarter despite Monaco hitting 5 three-pointers in the opening period. The visitors extended their advantage to 28-38 before Monaco, driven by Okobo who scored all his 10 first-half points in the second quarter, hit back to edge ahead 41-40 shortly before halftime.
Virtus regained the lead in the closing stages of the first half but that was as good as it got for the Italian outfit, which faded out after the break as Monaco surged into a 71-64 lead at the end of the third period.
James, who struggled in the opening three games of the season after undergoing back surgery during the summer break, hit a clutch three-pointer off the dribble to keep Monaco in the driving seat, 78-68, early in the fourth after Virtus had slashed the deficit.
With James and the effervescent Okobo running the show, the hosts then pulled away in the home stretch and led by as many as 20 points in the closing stages, much to the delight of the home supporters.
