Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse has confirmed the signing of Will Cherry on a deal until the end of the season.

Will Cherry lands at Bourg

[Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/) has confirmed the signing of [Will Cherry](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/will-cherry/006058/) on a deal until the end of the season.

Cherry (1.85 meters, 34 years old) most recently played for Cocodrilos in Venezuela, where he averaged 12.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.6 steals in 14 games.

The American point guard has four seasons of experience under the Euroleague Basketball umbrella, having spent two seasons in the EuroLeague with Zalgiris Kaunas (2014-15) and Olympiacos Piraeus (2019-20), and two campaigns in the BKT EuroCup with ALBA Berlin (2015-16) and Cedevita Zagreb (2017-18).

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Cherry joins a Bourg side that has already qualified for this season's EuroCup Playoffs, as the French side sits top of Group B with an 11-2 record.

More Bourg News

The veteran point guard bolsters coach Frederic Fauthoux's options in the backcourt

Zacharie Perrin is not your usual youth talent in Europe as the Veolia Towers Hamburg big man has always dreamt of playing in the EuroLeague over the NBA. And the way he is playing in his first year in Germany, that seems like a realistic goal of coming true soon. 

Zacharie Perrin: 'My dream is the EuroLeague over the NBA'

[Zacharie Perrin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/zacharie-perrin/011579/) is not your usual youth talent in Europe as the [Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/veolia-towers-hamburg/ham/) big man has always dreamt of playing in the EuroLeague over the NBA. And the way he is playing in his first year in Germany, that seems like a realistic goal of coming true soon. 

Perrin has excelled in his first season with the northern German club, averaging 12.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per night in the BKT EuroCup. The 21-year-old also has played well in the German League, where he is collecting 10.8 points and 5.8 rebounds. 

Perrin played in the ProA first division in France last season with SLUC Nancy but he was a domestic player. Now there is the added pressure of the 2.08-meter center having to perform as an import player. 

“That’s exactly what I wanted. I wanted to be out of my comfort zone. I knew there was a lot of pressure around me because it’s always tough to play a starting center, a 21-year-old, who didn’t have a great season in France. But it’s part of the sport,” said Perrin, who posted 6.7 points and 4.3 rebounds with Nancy last season. 

“You have to handle pressure. I bet on myself. I believed I could be good, so I said, 'I’m going to work, and I know it’s going to pay off.' I have to find a way to handle the pressure.”

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Perrin asked out of the final two years of his three-year deal with Nancy to come to Hamburg. And one of the reasons for that was to work with Towers head coach Benka Barloschky. 

“He tries to push me. He wants me to be better – every day, every practice. When you're a young player, you want to improve as fast as you can, and Benka is always behind me to help me become a better player. And even how he plays me. I don’t think there are a lot of coaches in Europe right now who start a 21-year-old in the EuroCup and also in the German League. That’s something you look for as a young player,” Perrin said. 

Playing time is certainly important for a youngster but Perrin is gaining valuable learning experience in something he really doesn’t want to – dealing with losses. 

Hamburg is still waiting for its first win in the EuroCup, narrowly losing this week at home to Neptunas Klaipeda to fall to 0-13 in Group A. The club has managed two victories domestically for a 2-10 record but also lost its German Cup game for a total season record of 2-24.

“It’s really tough. Even for me, as a young player. It’s the first time in my career I have to face this. But I try to stay focused, stay with the team, and also try to be better,” Perrin said. 

Perrin does have some experience in big games at the French youth national team level. He played a major role in helping the country reach the final of the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2023. But France lost to Spain in the title bout 73-69 in overtime, with Perrin contributing 14 points and 20 rebounds.

“It changed a lot of things in my mind. I was around really good players in the French national team. Rayan Rupert was a first-round pick, Alex Sarr was the second \[overall\] pick, and I was the best player there. I’m humble, but I was the best player on that team. It changed my confidence a lot, because I’m someone who sometimes struggles with confidence. So playing a World Cup for your country makes you proud, and it changed how confident I am in my game,” said Perrin, who was named to the All-Star Five with 15.4 points and 10.9 rebounds. 

Perrin got his revenge on Spain the next summer with a 74-72 victory in the quarterfinals – the game being decided on a buzzer-beater three-pointer by Noah Penda. 

“That was one of the best days of my life,” said Perrin, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament as France won the title and he averaged 15.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C9xmQxaoqpI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Zacharie Perrin ® (@zperrin25)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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Perrin mentioned earlier he has struggled with his confidence and that can be seen through his body language. 

“I’m still struggling with that, even now in Hamburg. Sometimes my body language isn’t great, and that’s something I’m trying to work on. I have a lot of people around me helping, even the coaching staff here, who talk to me about it a lot. But honestly, it’s just me. It takes time, but I’m starting to understand it better. It’s getting better – slowly, but surely,” he said. 

Perrin knows he will need to have good body language and strong confidence if he wants to reach his goal and excel in the EuroLeague, a league he still prefers to watch over the NBA to this day.

“For me, the EuroLeague is still the main goal. But the NBA is the best level of basketball in the world, I’ve got to be honest. Since I started basketball, I watched a lot of EuroLeague clips. It means a lot to me,” he said. 

Perrin definitely has a favorite team. 

“I grew up and went to high school in Antibes, which is really close to Monaco. So since I was young, I watched a lot of [\[AS\] Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/)’s games. I fell in love with EuroLeague basketball. So right now, my dream is still the EuroLeague over the NBA,” he said. 

Perrin also has two other teams he enjoys watching. 

“I like [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/) because of the way they play. They never stop, they’re always running, always onto the next possession,” he said. 

And the third team is [Dubai Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/dubai-basketball/dub/). But that is because of center [Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/), who played in the BKT EuroCup last season with [Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/). 

“I love to watch him. I watch him a lot because of the way he plays, the way he changes the game. I would say this season, he’s probably my favorite player,” Perrin said. 

Who knows, maybe Perrin will play alongside Kabengele one day in the EuroLeague. 

More Hamburg News

The Frenchman is taking big steps in Hamburg but dealing with losing. 

Aris Thessaloniki signs Kostas Antetokounmpo on loan from Olympiacos. The EuroLeague and NBA champion prepares for his first EuroCup experience and a bigger role in Thessaloniki. 

Kostas Antetokounmpo moves from Olympiacos to Aris

Aris Thessaloniki Betsson has secured the services of [Kostas Antetokounmpo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-antetokounmpo/011221/) on loan from Olympiacos Piraeus for the remainder of the season. The move gives the Greek big man an opportunity to make his EuroCup debut and take on a more prominent role after limited minutes in Piraeus.

Antetokounmpo (2.08 meters, 28 years old) appeared in three EuroLeague games for Olympiacos this season, where he totaled 4 points and 3 rebounds in 16 minutes. He also contributed 2.5 points and 2.0 rebounds across 10 Greek League contests. He now joins an Aris squad aiming to strengthen its frontcourt for the second half of the EuroCup campaign.

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A EuroLeague and NBA champion, Antetokounmpo signed a two-year deal with Olympiacos last summer after finishing the previous season with UCAM Murcia in Spain. He previously played for Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, with which he won the EuroLeague in 2024. Antetokounmpo lifted the NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. His career also includes stints with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in France, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in Turkiye, and the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA.

The move makes Kostas the second Antetokounmpo to play for Aris this season; his younger brother Alex began the season with the club, but made only one official appearance before leaving. Now, Antetokounmpo brings size, athleticism, and experience to Aris as he embarks on his first EuroCup adventure.

More Aris news

The EuroLeague and NBA champion moves on loan to Aris, where he will make his EuroCup debut

A career-best night in a winning effort saw Rihards Lomazs of Neptunas Klaipeda secure MVP honors for Round 13 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Round 13 MVP: Rihards Lomazs, Neptunas Klaipeda

A career-best night in a winning effort saw [Rihards Lomazs](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/rihards-lomazs/005553/) of [Neptunas Klaipeda](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/neptunas-klaipeda/kla/) secure MVP honors for Round 13 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Lomazs posted a career-high 33 points, making 6-of-9 two-pointers, 3-of-6 three-pointers and 12-of-12 free throws, as Neptunas beat Veolia Towers Hamburg 94-98. The Latvian guard also amassed 1 rebound, 6 assists, 1 steal and 6 fouls drawn. His career-best 36 PIR is the best of any player in this round. Lomazs is the second Neptunas player to earn MVP of the Round honors this season, after James Karnik was the tri-MVP in Round 6.

Hamburg’s [Ross Williams](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ross-williams/014194/) finished with a career-best 34 PIR in his team’s defeat to Neptunas. He amassed a career-high 32 points, shooting a perfect 8-for-8 inside the arc, 5-for-12 from deep and 1-for-1 from the free-throw line, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 5 fouls drawn.

[Austin Wiley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/austin-wiley/013278/) of Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem had the third-best index rating in Round 13, which came in his team’s 72-115 victory at Slask Wroclaw. He recorded a career-high 31 PIR after posting 17 points on 6-of-8 two-pointers and 5-of-7 free throws, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block and 4 fouls drawn.

[Umoja Gibson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/umoja-gibson/013855/) of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana had a career-best 30 PIR as his side fell 59-67 to Bahcesehir College Istanbul. He had a career-high 25 points on 4-of-5 two-pointers, 1-of-5 triples and 14-of-14 free throws, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block and 9 fouls drawn.

Rounding out the list of top performers in Round 13 are [Bryce Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/bryce-jones/012621/) of Aris Thessaloniki Betsson and [Joe Thomasson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/joe-thomasson/012095/) of Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens, both with a PIR of 29. Jones posted 27 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 7 fouls drawn as Aris lost 113-99 at BAXI Manresa, while Thomasson amassed 16 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 5 fouls drawn in Panionios’s 97-85 win against Buducnost VOLI Podgorica.

### Individual highs: Rihards Lomazs, Neptunas, 33 points

Rihards Lomazs of Neptunas scored 33 points in Round 13, more than any other player. U-BT Cluj-Napoca star Fatts Russell leads the EuroCup in scoring with 22.2 points per game.

Three players finished with a round-high 12 rebounds: Fardaws Aimaq of Lietkabelis Panevezys, and Jerusalem duo Anthony Lamb and Austin Wiley. Wiley is also the season leader in rebounds with 9.0 boards per contest.

Nikos Gkikas of Panionios dished a round-best 9 assists. Arnas Velicka of Neptunas tops the assists charts with 7.6 assists per night.

Two players – Shavar Reynolds of the London Lions and Jordan Usher of Turk Telekom Ankara – had 4 steals in this round, the best mark of any player. Dogus Ozdemiroglu of Turk Telekom is the EuroCup’s leader in steals with 2.5 per game.

Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu of Manresa and Chris Horton of Umana Reyer Venice both had a round-high 3 blocks. Austin Wiley narrowly leads the charts in blocks with an average of 1.64 per game, just ahead of Akobundu-Ehiogu (1.61 per game).

Austin Wiley (17 points, 12 rebounds), Anthony Lamb (10 points, 12 rebounds), Bahcesehir College Istanbul’s Tyler Cavanaugh (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Besiktas GAIN Istanbul’s Ante Zizic (10 points, 11 rebounds) were the four players to record a double-double in Round 13.

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Neptunas Klaipeda (2026-01-07T18:45:00.000Z)

Cedevita Olimpija has signed American forward Matthew Hurt for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. Hurt, a former Duke standout and ex-NBA player, joins from Trapani Shark to make his EuroCup debut and strengthen Ljubljana’s frontcourt.


Cedevita Olimpija snags more size and outside shooting with Matthew Hurt

Cedevita Olimpija has strengthened its frontline by signing [Matthew Hurt](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/matthew-hurt/014222/) for the remainder of the season. Hurt (2.06 meters, 25 years old) joins the club after starting the season with Trapani Shark in Italy, where he averaged 12.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in six Basketball Champions League games and 8.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in the Italian League. Hurt, who will make his EuroCup debut with Cedevita Olimpija, brings a strong offensive skill set highlighted by his shooting range and rebounding ability.

“After the departures of Nikos Chougkatzas and William McNair, we needed reinforcements in the frontcourt,” said Cedevita Olimpija sports director Chechu Mulero. “Matthew has great offensive potential, a good shooting touch, and basketball intelligence. We expect him to integrate quickly and help us in the decisive part of the season.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sl" dir="ltr">Med Zmaje prihaja okrepitev na položaju krilnega centra!<br><br>Cedeviti Olimpiji se bo pridružil 25-letni, 206 cm visoki Matthew Hurt, ki je sezono začel pri italijanskem Trapaniju, zdaj pa bo zaigral v Ljubljani.<br><br>Matt, dobrodošel med Zmaji! 💚🧡<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZmajevaDruzina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZmajevaDruzina</a> <a href="https://t.co/XVGx6wvq0f">pic.twitter.com/XVGx6wvq0f</a></p>&mdash; Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (@KKCedOL) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL/status/2008886356467151352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Hurt said he was excited about the move: “I’m thrilled to join Cedevita Olimpija. I’ve heard great things about the team and the city. I can’t wait to meet the fans and contribute to a strong squad.”

A former standout at Duke University, Hurt led the Blue Devils in scoring and rebounding during his sophomore season before turning professional. He spent time in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies, appearing in eight games and starred in the G League with the Memphis Hustle. Hurt also played in Australia for the South East Melbourne Phoenix, where he earned All-NBL First Team honors with averages of 20.1 points and 7.4 rebounds, before moving to Italy last summer.

Cedevita Olimpija currently sits in the thick of the EuroCup playoff race, ranked third in Group A at 8-5, and will look to Hurt’s versatility and scoring punch to boost its chances in the season’s most critical stretch.

The 25-year-old American forward arrives from Italy’s Trapani Shark 

Neptunas Klaipeda secured a 94-98 win over Veolia Towers Hamburg on Wednesday night, improving to 6-7 in Group A and taking a vital step in the race for a top-six finish. Rihards Lomazs was the driving force for the Lithuanian side, posting a career-high 33 points and 6 assists for a game-best 36 PIR. 

Neptunas prevailed in Hamburg behind red-hot Rihards Lomazs

Neptunas Klaipeda secured a 94-98 win over Veolia Towers Hamburg on Wednesday night, improving to 6-7 in Group A and taking a vital step in the race for a top-six finish.

Coming off two straight losses, the Lithuanian side knew a win was essential to keep its playoff hopes alive and stayed composed in a back-and-forth game before delivering late in the final quarter.

Rihards Lomazs was the driving force for the Lithuanian side, posting a career-high 33 points and 6 assists for a game-best 36 PIR. Held to just 8 points at halftime, he caught fire after the break and carried the offense when it mattered most.

‘‘For sure, those stops we got in the end, it was crucial. And we kind of stuck together the whole game,’’ said the Latvian guard. ‘‘I try to do whatever the defense gives and sometimes it was a pull-up, sometimes it was a drive, sometimes a three-pointer, so basketball is a game of reads and yeah, probably I did the right reads today… If you want to compete in the playoffs, you have to win on the road.’’

Neptunas stayed level in a fast-paced game, with both teams trading baskets in a balanced first half. The visitors' ability to limit their turnovers proved decisive, and a crucial turnover from Hamburg with 18 seconds remaining allowed Neptunas to pull ahead and close out the win.

Bench production proved to be another key factor for Neptunas. Zane Waterman gave the visitors a lift in the second quarter and finished with 15 points, while Harrison Cleary delivered in the final period, knocking down key three-pointers on his way to 16 points. Arnas Velicka also provided multiple scoring options, adding another layer to Neptunas’ offense.

‘‘Overall, I don’t think that today was a bad energy and bad mindset,’’ said coach Gediminas Petrauskas after the game. ‘‘Our problem was shooting. We created shots, we missed, even the layups. I felt that our team is a little bit nervous, we feel the pressure, we must win, we need to win, and it felt a little bit on our shoulders.’’

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Hamburg, chasing its first win of the season, came close behind a red-hot Ross Williams, who carried the offense and kept his team in the game. The American guard posted a career-high 32 points and 5 rebounds for a PIR of 34. He made 5 three-pointers and was 8-of-8 in the paint.

Zacharie Perrin also contributed heavily, especially in the second half, finishing with 16 points and making his presence felt in the paint.

Next up, Neptunas will look to carry the momentum back home as it faces Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, while Hamburg will continue its search for a first win of the season on the road at U-BT Cluj-Napoca.

Game News

The Latvian sharpshooter shined bright with a career-high 33 points

 Chemnitz grabbed its fourth consecutive victory by topping London 70-78 at the Copper Box and 25-year-old forward Kostja Mushidi had a career-best performance against the London Lions 


Mushidi leads Chemnitz to victory in London

It wasn't pretty, but Chemnitz NINERS got the job done in Round 13. Chemnitz grabbed its fourth consecutive victory by topping London 70-78 at the Copper Box. All of a sudden, Coach [Rodrigo Pastore](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/niners-chemnitz/nin/pastore-rodrigo)'s team has a winning record, 7-6, and a two-victory gap over the Lions and ratiopharm ulm, who are both below the playoffs cut with 5-8 records.

It was a hard-fought battle in which Chemnitz limited its mistakes down the stretch and found a go-to guy in [Corey Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/corey-davis-jr-/013890/) in the final minutes. Davis buried a critical three-pointer and added a driving basket that sealed the outcome, 70-76, with over a minute left. Both teams finished the game with 18 turnovers and neither of them shot the ball well from beyond the arc: the hosts made 8 of 26 three-pointers (30.6% 3FG) and Chemnitz buried 9 of 29 shots from downtown (31.0% 3FG).

Chemnitz missed center [Amadou Sow](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/amadou-sow/012598/) for the first time this season and it was a significant absence, as Sow had been playing great recently, averaging 17.0 points and 6.0 rebounds for a PIR of 18.4 in the last five games. As always, injuries sometimes give opportunities to other players and [Kostja Mushidi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kostja-mushidi/006634/) made the most of it.

Mushidi entered the game averaging 4.5 points and 1.5 rebounds for a PIR of 3.0 in 11 games. He played a near-perfect first half, striking twice from beyond the arc and making 5 of 6 shots for 12 points and a PIR of 13 before the break. Mushidi ended up setting career-highs in points (22), assists (5), steals (3) and PIR (26). Chemnitz needed a second scorer to work alongside the ever-reliable [Kevin Yebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kevin-yebo/013368/) and Mushidi became his team's X-factor. 

Yebo also delivered again, finishing the game with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for a PIR of 21.

After the game, Coach Pastore revealed how he got Mushidi back on track: "Kostja has something to prove. He is not wasting this opportunity that he has been given We are tough and demanding on him. We have high expectations on him and he is not shying away from it. I am very proud of him," he said. 

"We Had a video session with him yesterday and were a little bit tough. We were not happy with his performance in the last game and he answered like good players do, with actions. A very good game from him today."

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/ninerschemnitz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ninerschemnitz</a> deliver on a crucial night 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/SGPgPXO7hi">pic.twitter.com/SGPgPXO7hi</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/2009018504025133081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

"\[I was focused on\] playing team basketball, doing the right plays, trusting my teammates and just believing in myself. All the hard work I put in it showed today," Mushidi said after the game. "We got great character in our group. All the best to Amadou Sow, we missed him today, but we have character. It was a character win. I'm proud of the guys."

"This is a very resilient group with all the difficulties that we have. We are still here standing four out of four in the second round \[second half of the regular season\]. I am very proud of these guys," Coach Pastore said after the game. "In the end, we made the plays we needed to make."

The 25-year-old forward had a career-best performance against the London Lions 


London Lions v NINERS Chemnitz (2026-01-07T19:30:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venice once again defended its home court in grabbing a crucial victory over U-BT Cluj-Napoca in the fight for the playoffs, thanks to Stefan Nikolic’s career night. 
Nikolic poured in a personal-best 23 points to lead a Reyer team that slowed down the BKT EuroCup’s number one offense with a 90-83 win for a three-game winning streak and the head-to-head tiebreaker over Cluj. 


Stefan Nikolic's career night, defense carries Reyer past Cluj 

Umana Reyer Venice once again defended its home court in grabbing a crucial victory over U-BT Cluj-Napoca in the fight for the playoffs, thanks to Stefan Nikolic’s career night.

Nikolic poured in a personal-best 23 points to lead a Reyer team that slowed down the BKT EuroCup’s number one offense with a 90-83 win for a three-game winning streak and the head-to-head tiebreaker over Cluj.

Cluj won the first game against Reyer at home 103-102, but Reyerin ahead in the standings as both sides have 7-6 records in Group A. Reyer remained a powerhouse at home with a 5-1 record at the Palasport Taliercio.

“I cannot be more happy. I give credit to everyone on the roster for what they did tonight, playing good defense. At the end of the game, we made so many mistakes and they scored more than in the first three quarters. But this is the best offensive team in the EuroCup and it’s not easy to keep them under 80 points,” Reyer coach Neven Spahija said afterwards.

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Reyer’s defense stood strong for 30 minutes, giving up only 52 points and Cluj’s lowest scoring game this season in the EuroCup was 72 points in Round 10 at Bahcesehir College Istanbul.

The man of the hour was Nikolic, who had another big game as Reyer looked for other offensive weapons to make up for the absences of Jordan Parks and Ky Bowman, who are the third and fourth top scorers for the team.

“I feel great. This was an amazing win. We needed this one so much to feel the confidence again in the EuroCup,” said Nikolic, who had scored 14 points in Round 12 to set a career-high.

The 28-year-old also joked afterwards about being thrust into the spotlight, saying: “I understand how Kyle Wiltjer feels now. It’s hard to score this much and I respect his job even more now.”

RJ Cole added 18 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists and Chris Horton chipped in 11 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks in the win.

Reyer took a 10-point lead early in the second quarter and led 41-34 at the break. Cluj was only down 48-44 when the hosts went on a 13-5 surge to establish a 12-point cushion.

Reyer looked in control and held a 15-point cushion (80-65) with 3:31 minutes to go. Cluj’s offensive firepower flashed one last time and got the deficit to 81-74 when Alessandro Lever drained a three-pointer with 76 seconds to make it a 10-point lead.

Cluj could only trim it to 5 points in the waning seconds as Reyer held on.

“It was tough until the end. We had to stay calm. They were so aggressive but we managed the game in the end,” added Nikolic.

Cluj came into the game with a six-game winning streak, including the last two in the EuroCup. But Mihai Silvasan’s team shot only 46 percent on two-pointers and only could force Reyer into 10 turnovers.

Trey Woodbury and Mitch Creek both scored 18 points and Dusan Miletic tallied 16 points with 9 rebounds, while the league’s leading scorer Fatts Russell was held to just 9 points - 13.1 below his average.

“Our mindset needs to be different. We didn’t start the game with the right mindset. We weren’t ready to give everything we had in order to win this game,” Silvasan said.

“We had good moments in some parts, but we didn’t have the mindset we wanted to have - and that is a champion’s mindset. We didn’t have that. It’s not about how good or bad you are a night regarding shooting, it’s about what you do from the effort point of view. And we didn’t have that at our maximum tonight.”

Nikolic poured in a career high 23 points to help Reyer win its third straight game

Umana Reyer Venice v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2026-01-07T19:00:00.000Z)

Almost 100 days had passed since Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens celebrated its first and only BKT EuroCup win of the season. On Wednesday night, it defeated Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 97-85 to give its fans some joy.

Joe Thomasson provides the spark as Panionios stuns Buducnost

Almost 100 days had passed since [Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/panionios-cosmorama-travel-athens/nio/) celebrated its first and only BKT EuroCup win of the season. Heading into Wednesday's clash against a strong [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/bud/) side, Panionios had 23 losses in 24 games across all competitions, including 11 consecutive defeats in Europe.

Nenad Markovic had shortly arrived to become the team’s fifth coach of the season in a desperate pursuit of the new-coach bounce. His appointment was followed by the arrival of experienced guard [Joe Thomasson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/joe-thomasson/012095/), who inspired Panionios’s best performance this term.

The Greek side pulled off an upset against a Buducnost team that came into the game as the competition’s fourth-best defense with an average of 78.6 points conceded per game. Not only did Panionios reach its average of 75 points scored per game with 9 minutes left on the clock, but Markovic’s side exploded to a season-high point tally in a 97-85 triumph at home.

Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens-Buducnost VOLI Podgorica | Round 13 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

“We played against one of the contenders for the EuroCup,” Markovic said in the post-game press conference. “They show every year great performance in the ABA League and EuroCup. It wasn’t easy for the guys, because third coach, third philosophy, everything changed. But they responded fantastic, they brought great energy, they stayed together.”

The hosts bettered all their scoring averages by going 20-for-32 (62.5% 2FG) from inside the arc, 14-for-27 (51.9% 3FG) from deep and 15-for-17 (88.2%) from the free-throw line. They also dished as many as 25 assists and outrebounded Buducnost 31-30.

“I think that this victory is important to make them understand what they need to do as a team to win the games. And we showed it today,” Markovic added. “We played much better defense, we fought, we stayed together in the difficult moments, we controlled the rebounds. Many players made contributions and I think that’s the way for us.”

The team’s confidence on the court was embodied by Thomasson, who hit the ground running at Panionios. Introduced in the starting five by Markovic, the 32-year-old guard embraced the role of the leader from the off.

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He helped his team dictate the tempo on offense and hustled from start to finish on defense, pulling off a complete display. In fact, Thomasson ended the game on 16 points, having gone 4-for-6 on field goals and 6-for-6 from the charity stripe. He also bagged 6 assists and 4 rebounds, as well as 1 steal and a block.

“Thomasson is a player who played in winning situations before in Gran Canaria, in Tofas, in Manresa,” Markovic noted. “And he has this mentality to put these guys together and make them understand that he came here to win, not to lose. I think it’s good that a player with his experience and his impact can help other players too.”

Panionios's performance against Buducnost could serve as the turning point for a team that were desperate for a spark, which has been provided by Markovic and Thomasson.

Following such a boost in morale, they will look to build some momentum and find the consistency that will allow them to end the season on a positive note by bouncing back from adversity in this final stretch of the 2025-26 campaign.

The veteran guard stood out with a complete performance on his debut for the Greek side

Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2026-01-07T17:30:00.000Z)