The home team’s power forwards came up big down the stretch to propel their team to victory
Nikola Mirotic, Zach LeDay stepped up as Milan overpowered Virtus
Article
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 7 of 34
Group Regular Season
w
l
l
l
l
l
l
w
l
l
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan dug deep in the fourth quarter to subdue traditional Italian rival Virtus Segafredo Bologna, 99-90, in Round 7 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, helped by majestic performances from Zach LeDay and Nikola Mirotic.
The duo carried Milan in crunch time, particularly 33-year-old Mirotic who finished the game on 21 points and 13 rebounds, hitting 12 points in the home straight when Virtus launched one last onslaught which the home side was able to repel.
LeDay netted 19 points and racked up 4 boards, shooting 6-of-9 from the floor and 5-of-5 from the line, providing muscle in the paint as well as a threat from deep as he made both of his 3-point attempts.
In his post-game comments, the American offered a peculiar analogy to Milan’s resilience and fighting spirit, which forced battling Virtus into submission.
Game Videos
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/fd25e0fc-2355-4a22-9506-622a65137aed.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/rqHknWewwgU/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a0d9bb97-958d-4ea9-b7f0-40741513c594.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A97%3A32]()
Ante Zizic with a big dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/hhv20iHb-5Q/maxresdefault.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:16
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/21/lpdVKzM6GmGioikX8H8yqU7Fd8AfRXZq-1732227446927.jpg]()
Zach LeDay: 'Basketball is the best job in the world'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/9hK0SFuRquE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0599f23e-58b6-433e-b46f-377d3f82a751.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:51
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/15/xypTpEdl5tzfSiGaHG0CRn9G5kpcZGG6-1731709066299.jpg]()
Ettore Messina: 'You have to suffer to win games'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/00b75cd0-79a5-41f5-8275-cb3ba273994a.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0277c721-dbd7-4770-82a6-8ff657f5fec5.jpg?crop=1210%3A680%3Anowe%3A67%3A99]()
A massive dunk from Brooks! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bb96d3f6-1448-45a3-8519-5cbfbd81ec17.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A270%3A25]()
Clyburn beats the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9d22acee-dcf3-40d2-b30e-b53962988c92.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A131%3A0]()
Huge put-back by Polonara! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4233ab3e-dfd5-48e7-87ee-6a9a577dd1bd.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A189%3A0]()
Clyburn goes coast-to-coast! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/sSNxEq5naNc/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6ec0911e-c34b-442c-aa42-c2c11aedf20e.jpg]()
ALBA Berlin-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f9ce026e-afad-4722-a730-24ec7f557292.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A129%3A30]()
Pajola's magic assist! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:37
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/08/NRWiMZQjN62Ub3EqupLu1lby2B0J87Uv-1731106233456.jpg]()
Toko Shengelia: 'The whole team should be standing here'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6ba17594-c852-416a-9cdd-d187cec4b294.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d4508ddd-4618-4ca8-b278-e1337cd04e29.jpg?crop=1132%3A637%3Anowe%3A45%3A59]()
Zizic with a big dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e0620269-6db0-4d9e-a940-8adae419938f.jpg?crop=941%3A529%3Anowe%3A112%3A14]()
What a solo effort by Cordinier! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:14
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/07/NCa7Jzq7RqZrQu1I9LNdaNoWYEAhcTdN-1731016659327.jpg]()
Neno Dimitrijevic: 'We did an amazing job'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/fba8d3f6-eeb2-4f9a-914f-1a8c4be416a7.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Real Madrid | RS Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:31
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/31/HGwtMzCApOgE35n6QXGvnGN8YZpYsNRt-1730416780861.jpg]()
Fabien Causeur: 'We found the right solutions'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/24b272d4-aa46-4393-9565-51b3fe8b3e91.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/aa2b5047-2d81-4286-9463-2cfbba3d7e09.jpg?crop=1249%3A703%3Anowe%3A42%3A82]()
A monster jam by Josh Nebo! Motorola Magic Momen
- 00:07
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/dce2f361-531c-470d-bf34-8ca9a51b9638.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A106%3A25]()
Big dunk by Isaia Cordinier! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/80046ee3-5020-40e6-8eb7-3ea811c9344b.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A106%3A38]()
What a play by Leandro Bolmaro! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/db77921a-307c-41e8-b92f-20ebb6555f4a.jpg]()
Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cfd994c7-06d3-4c66-a369-b29bbdb48cda.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A33%3A43]()
Banks rejects Kokila! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/CWQReNwRrsA/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-FC Bayern Munich | RS Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/CEYiNxJwu9I/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c91dd297-0402-4696-bfee-0009218a579c.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A91%3A62]()
Nebo's block leads to creative offense! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bc9e9d81-2777-41db-9038-42d4ee3a75d7.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A126%3A85]()
Clyburn's wild put-back slam! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/H9NZH7VoQ98/maxresdefault.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:26
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b97cc3b1-ce4a-4b2e-b351-dc3b1485c47a.jpg?crop=2640%3A1485%3Anowe%3A125%3A118]()
LeDay’s brutal slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/80046ee3-5020-40e6-8eb7-3ea811c9344b.jpg?crop=846%3A476%3Anowe%3A137%3A3]()
Bolmaro does it all! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/sqfnk2eLEL0/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Virtus Segafredo Bologna| RS Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:43
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/23/K6GQBjP7p7EOrF6E3nsJJmGvAvnNYrJM-1729716327012.jpg]()
Will Clyburn: 'Everybody was locked in'
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/153b5012-716a-4643-b5f6-978d91549a4e.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A56%3A38]()
Rayjon Tucker gets the ball from Daniel Hackett and dunks off the baseline!
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/da17fc2b-aa4d-4b86-9785-6be82220890a.jpg]()
AS Monaco-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ba96c7c1-38ad-4579-ae05-f40d7530399d.png?crop=600%3A338%3Anowe%3A82%3A62]()
A fine two-handed dunk by Zizic! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/i5ec2jdFtqE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:28
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/065caf80-4ada-4826-8dd8-a3a8a56dd883.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A65%3A85]()
Shields rocks the rim on a fastbreak! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/X-jC_WVFHs4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/vHMDX0DdyDc/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/09ced6d2-69e3-4c0c-b34d-983e94e3bc53.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A91%3A85]()
LeDay with a ferocious dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 02:00
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/11/2kCQWpv4AtQ4BSr2eHGDpk4Y8ZjxxgXD-1728682485050.jpg]()
Ettore Messina: 'Zach LeDay always gives us something'
- 03:46
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/11/HAMOF5uBjwCuKwvwnxH7uRSyo9bLbOmq-1728681341189.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Paris Basketball | RS Round 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0d85db8b-6332-4335-8ae9-4f9a14f2a367.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A33]()
Zach LeDay with a powerful slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 03:51
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/10/zPGr8vSQwt24llSpgkb8DP12F86s83kH-1728594563362.jpg]()
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
“It’s a big win for us, we’ve been struggling and there’ve been a lot of things going on, but we stayed together, resilient like dogs,” LeDay said. “Like my mom says, you’ve got to let the dogs go hunt, so that’s what you’ve got do. Let the dogs go hunt and see what they bring back to you.
“We got the stops when we needed to, that’s really been the main thing for our team. Offensively we were good but the key was getting those stops.”
Apart from Mirotic and LeDay, Milan’s effort was also carried by Stefano Tonut, who enjoyed an impeccable shooting night in scoring 14 points, as well as Fabien Causeur who netted 18 to go with 6 boards. The versatile French guard acknowledged the win over Virtus could potentially be a turning point early in the season as Milan snapped a four-game skid.
“It was a tough month for us and we had some tough losses but today we stuck together and hit some tough shots,” said Causeur. “I am very happy because this is a great group of guys and we found the right solutions at the right time. It’s a good sign for the rest of the season and I am pretty sure we’re going to keep getting better.”
Apart from missing several key players including sharpshooting guard Shavon Shields, Milan was also without its ill-stricken head coach Ettore Messina, whose stand-in assistant Mario Fioretti praised the team and wished his boss a speedy recovery.
“We played a solid game but we made some defensive mistakes when Virtus came back very hard in the third quarter,” he said. “We fought throughout the game and offensive rebounding was the key tonight as our defensive level was not where we wanted it to be.
“Virtus is a very tough team and it’s not easy to play them. Messina is feeling a lot better today and we hope to have our leader back as soon as possible.”
Milan racked up a massive 15 offensive boards and 40 in total, against 24 collected by Virtus, with only 3 of those on the offensive end. The home team also sank 12 of 29 attempts from 3-point range while Virtus made 9 of 22, the hosts thus excelling in key departments to prevail in a rip-roaring contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats throughout.