Bahcesehir College Istanbul ground out a hard-fought 90-98 win at Romanian outfit U-BT Cluj-Napoca after a concerted team effort saw the visitors prevail in an electrifying atmosphere, with player of the game Malachi Flynn draining 24 points and pulling down 7 rebounds.

Malachi Flynn and roster depth carried Bahcesehir past Cluj

[Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/) ground out [a hard-fought 90-98 win at Romanian outfit U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/strong-finish-sees-bahcesehir-beat-cluj-90-98/) after a concerted team effort saw the visitors prevail in an electrifying atmosphere, with player of the game [Malachi Flynn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/malachi-flynn/013908/) draining 24 points and pulling down 7 rebounds.

Flynn had rock solid support from a deep Bahcesehir roster as all 10 of the visiting team’s players who got minutes on the court made the scoresheet, with [Hale Hunter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/hunter-hale/013909/) adding 16 points while [Ismet Akpinar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ismet-akpinar/004056/) netted 13.

The experienced [Kenan Sipahi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kenan-sipahi/005275/), still fresh from winning a silver medal with Turkiye at the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket, chipped in with 11 points, including a pair of clutch three-pointers which ultimately forced the hard-fighting Cluj into submission.

U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Bahcesehir College Istanbul | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroCup

Just as importantly, Bahcesehir’s bench netted almost a half of the team’s points tally, with the visitors thoroughly dominating the paint as they racked up 34 rebounds. A staggering 17 of them came on the offensive end, giving the Turkish team a massive advantage in the paint as Cluj only collected 25 boards and a mere 6 on offense.

Bahcesehir’s head coach Marko Barac felt this team’s performance left something to be desired, but he had no complaints about a sterling effort which helped the Turkish outfit come out on top.

“This team still has a lot of room to improve and I am sure we will grow,” Barac said in a postgame interview. “It’s a completely new roster and much like everybody else, we had a couple of injuries during the preseason. 

"The most important thing for me as a coach, however, is to find a way to win even when we’re not playing our A game. Our team’s character made the difference because Cluj are known to be an aggressive team and playing in this kind of atmosphere is never easy.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">💎 İşte galibiyetin 𝐌𝐕𝐏’si! <br><br>🔑 U-BT Cluj Napoca galibiyetimizde anahtar rol oynayan oyuncumuz; 24 sayı, 7 ribaund, 4 asist, 32 verimlilik puanı performansıyla Malachi Flynn oluyor!<br><br>❤️💙 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CatchYourDreams?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CatchYourDreams</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/fNrf484Lkl">pic.twitter.com/fNrf484Lkl</a></p>&mdash; Bahçeşehir Koleji Spor Kulübü (@BKBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BKBasketbol/status/1973454651631747318?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Flynn was at the heart of the success as he mixed delightful layups with sound mid-range shooting and a pair of telling efforts from downtown, adding 4 assists for good measure. The 26-year-old American, who joined Bahcesehir during the off-season after five years in the NBA, was appreciative of the good work his teammates had put in.

“It feels great to win in a tough environment and it’s a great start for our team,” he said. “It was a big team effort as every player came in, guys came off the bench and contributed and you never know with our team who’s going to step up to the plate. I think it will be like that throughout the season.”

The defeat left a bitter taste for Cluj head coach Mihai Silvasan, who conceded that his team got punished ruthlessly for being second best in the paint, as well as for poor offense in crunch time.

“We were closing the game for three quarters but in the end we committed some sloppy turnovers and missed some easy shots,” Sivasan said. “We also gave away 17 offensive rebounds to them and it killed us. Obviously we don’t like it, but we need to move forward and focus on the upcoming games.”

Game News

The visitors also benefited from an avalanche of offensive boards in a thrilling contest

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-10-01T16:00:00.000Z)

Starting its BKT EuroCup season strong by securing an 85-79 home win over Besiktas GAIN Istanbul in Round 1, Lietkabelis Panevezys set the tone for the campaign ahead, with Augustine Rubit and Kristian Kullamae standing out.

Rubit, Kullamae stepped up for Lietkabelis against Besiktas

Starting its BKT EuroCup season strong by securing [an 85-79 home win over Besiktas GAIN Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/lietkabelis-secures-surprise-home-win-over-besiktas-85-79/) in Round 1, [Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/lietkabelis-panevezys/lkb/) set the tone for the campaign ahead. 

The solid performances of [Augustine Rubit](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/augustine-rubit/006477/) and [Kristian Kullamae](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kristian-kullamae/007729/) were key factors in Lietkabelis’s win. Dusan Alimpijevic’s Besiktas came in as one of the season’s favorites, but team chemistry ultimately carried Lietkabelis to victory at Kalnapilio Arena.

Lietkabelis Panevezys-Besiktas GAIN Istanbul | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroCup

Against Besiktas’s two physical big men, Ante Zizic and Ismael Kamagate, Rubit used his experience to gain the upper hand on both ends of the floor. He finished the game with 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists for a 22 PIR. Rubit made a significant impact during Lietkabelis's 15-0 third-quarter run, contributing to his team's scoring in the paint and giving an early indication of his potential impact this season.

In the post game interview, the 36-year-old emphasized Lietkabelis's team chemistry and said: ‘‘I like the way we start together, came out and fall together. I think we gotta learn from that. That was the biggest thing, togetherness in the second half.’’

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Another key contributor to the win was Estonian guard Kullamae. He added 17 points on offense while being impactful on defense, finishing the game with 7 defensive rebounds and showing strong court vision for a guard. In pick-and-rolls with Rubit, he also set up his teammate effectively. 

Kullamae hit back-to-back triples in the fourth quarter at crucial moments, helping Lietkabelis extend the lead. One of the game’s Magic Moments came when Kullamae hit a three-pointer off an assist from Rubit. Yet, it was [Paulius Danusevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/paulius-danusevicius/013512/)’s touch pass that stood out on that play. 

Following Rubit and Kullamae, Danusevicius emerged as another key contributor for Lietkabelis in the game. Danusevicius was highly effective in the paint, finishing with 13 points and making an impact on both ends of the floor.

The duo were key in the Lithuanian outfit getting off to a 1-0 start

Lietkabelis Panevezys v Besiktas GAIN Istanbul (2025-10-01T16:00:00.000Z)

In what was a low-scoring affair at the BTS Arena, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse earned a 31-point road victory against Dolomiti Energia Trento, downing the Italian side 48-79. A shellshocked Trento will have to regroup after failing to make it to the 50-point mark in a brutal opening-round loss.

Bourg blasts past Trento, 48-79

In what was a low-scoring affair at the BTS Arena, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse earned a 31-point road victory against Dolomiti Energia Trento, downing the Italian side 48-79. A shellshocked Trento will have to regroup after failing to make it to the 50-point mark in a brutal opening-round loss.

Darius McGhee led the way for Bourg, scoring 22 points to go along with 5 boards, 3 dishes and 2 steals. Assemian Moulare played his part too, making momentum-swinging plays on his way to 11 points.

Game Videos

McGhee expressed his excitement coming into this contest and he backed it up almost immediately. The American guard opened scoring with consecutive threes to run out to an early 6-0 Bourg lead, before following up with a smooth floater to build on the visitors’ advantage. The French team played swarming defense on the other end, which Trento struggled to break down. Turnovers hurt the hosts, who finished the opening period down by 13.

The second quarter began in similar fashion; Bourg controlled the pace of play and Massimo Cancellieri’s men struggled from the field. After six misses from beyond the arc however, Khalif Battle and Davante Jones attempted to ignite Trento with deep makes of their own. Despite narrowing the margin with improved offense, the Italian side couldn’t contain the dynamic play of McGhee and Vincent Mitchell. As the teams split for the break, Bourg held a 30-40 lead.

It started to feel like it just wasn’t Trento’s night as the third period got underway. Multiple shots rimmed out, wasteful turnovers were committed and the decision-making dropped in quality. Frederic Fauthoux’s team weren’t exactly in full-flow themselves, but they did enough to extend the lead through confident transition buckets from Jordan Bayehe and commanding interior play from Kevin Kokila, who dominated the glass. Logging just eight points in the third, Trento saw the contest slipping away heading into the final frame.

The home fans saw a familiar story unfold in the fourth; Trento desperately scrambled for scoring opportunities but couldn’t get through Bourg’s defensive wall. McGhee kept the momentum going for the visitors, capping off his performance with a contested three-pointer. The atmosphere flattened down the stretch and when the final buzzer sounded, Bourg had gotten its EuroCup campaign off to an emphatic start.

Darius McGhee played the starring role in an impressive team performance, as Bourg dominated a struggling Trento team

Dolomiti Energia Trento v Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (2025-10-01T18:00:00.000Z)

Panionios Athens celebrated its BKT EuroCup return with a thrilling comeback victory in overtime after losing a big lead to beat debutant NINERS Chemnitz 89-86 at home. The Greek side, which was playing in its first EuroCup game in 11 years and eight months, wasted a 17-point lead but managed to rally from 13 points down late in the third quarter. 

Panionios wins OT thriller in return thanks to Jaylen Hands's heroics 

Panionios Athens celebrated its BKT EuroCup return with a thrilling comeback victory in overtime after losing a big lead to beat debutant NINERS Chemnitz 89-86 at home. The Greek side, which was playing in its first EuroCup game in 11 years and eight months, wasted a 17-point lead but managed to rally from 13 points down late in the third quarter. 

Jaylen Hands buried two three-pointers in the final 34 seconds, including the game-winning triple with 6.4 seconds to go. Michalis Lountzis paced five Panionios players in double figures with 20 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals while Giorgos Tsalmpouris had 15 points. Hands and Markel Starks both scored 11 points. For Chemnitz, Corey Davis scored 26 points and John Newman had 22 points.

Starks hit a three-pointer to open the scoring for the hosts and it was 5-0 when Newman drained a triple for Chemnitz’s first-ever EuroCup points. Lountzis was unstoppable early on with two triples among his 12 points for a 20-7 lead. Thanks to six triples, Panionios’ cushion extended to 17 points 30-13 after 10 minutes.

Davis knocked down three triples for the guests to pull within 34-26. Two Nate Watson dunks helped Panionios push the margin to 44-30. Chemnitz was unfazed and continued to get closer with a 5-15 surge to make it 49-45 at halftime.

Chemnitz scored the first basket of the second half and allowed only one basket in the first nearly 4 minutes but could only make it 51-49. Panionios was leading 53-49 when its offense went ice-cold, as Nike Sibande and Davis scored five points apiece in a 0-17 run over more than 5 minutes for a 53-66 Chemnitz advantage. And it was 57-66 after 30 minutes.

Tsalmpouris hit Panionios’s first five points and Hands buried a triple to finish the 9-0 start to the fourth quarter to tie the game 66-66. Chemnitz finally got on the board after 3 minutes for the next five points. Lountzis responded with six points and Starks’s three-pointer put the Greeks back ahead 75-73 with under 2 minutes to play. Lountzis added two free throws with 37 seconds left for a 77-73 cushion. Davis answered with a layup and then Yordan Minchev knotted the game 77-77 with two free throws with 4.0 seconds remaining. Both teams failed to convert and the game went to overtime.

Neither team could really get going in the extra session, with missed free throws and turnovers as both ends. Davis and Sibande converted layups for Chemnitz for an 81-85 lead with 76 seconds to play. Tsalmpouris followed with two free throws before Hands’s heroics. The guard tied the game with a three-pointer with 35 seconds to go and won it with a long, long triple with 6.4 seconds remaining.

The Greek team's guard hit the game-winner three-pointer with 6.4 seconds to play

Panionios Athens v NINERS Chemnitz (2025-10-01T16:30:00.000Z)

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana enjoyed a sweet BKT EuroCup debut when it defeated visiting BAXI Manresa 76-69 at Arena Stozice on Wednesday evening. The hosts improved to 1-0 while the visitors start their debut campaign with a defeat.

Cedevita Olimpija gets past Manresa, 76-69

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana enjoyed a sweet BKT EuroCup debut when it defeated visiting BAXI Manresa 76-69 at Arena Stozice on Wednesday evening. The hosts improved to 1-0 while the visitors start their debut campaign with a defeat.

An 11-0 opening run allowed Cedevita to build a solid double-digit lead at halftime, 42-27, that went above 20 points in the second half. A late rally by Manresa cut the deficit to 5 points in the last period, but a three by Aleksej Nikolic with 27 seconds left secured the home win. 

Nikolic paced the winners with 17 points and 6 assists, Thomas Kennedy posted a double-double of 10 points and 11 boards, and Nikos Chougkaz added 10 and 9. Alex Reyes led Manresa with 16 points, Louis Olinde had 11, while Grant Golden and Hugo Benitez contributed 10 apiece for the losing side.

The hosts had a perfect start as they easily built an 11-0 lead in less than 3 minutes. Manresa couldn’t find momentum, struggling on offense while going 0 of 2 from the field and committing 3 turnovers. The visitors found some relief when Dani Perez and Reyes came off the bench, as they connected three times from downtown to make it 23-13. Cedevita held off Manresa's comeback attempt by using the free-throw line to perfection, closing the first period with a solid 29-18 advantage.

Although Olinde opened the quarter with an early three-pointer, the overall momentum remained unchanged. Kennedy extended the lead to 35-21 after 13 minutes by converting free throws. DJ Stewart contributed a three-point play, followed by additional free throws from Chougkaz, allowing Cedevita to maintain firm control at 40-25 midway through the second quarter. Manresa experienced a scoring drought lasting over five minutes, and by the time Olinde broke it with a basket inside, Cedevita held a commanding 42-27 advantage at halftime.

Manresa offensive woes continued after the break, as Jaka Blazic converted a corner three-pointer and Chougkaz completed a three-point play to extend the lead beyond 20 points at 48-27. Reyes provided some relief, with Golden assisting to narrow the deficit to 52-36. Steinbergs’s successful three-pointer offered Manresa additional momentum, and another interior basket from Golden brought the score to 54-43 after 17 minutes. However, further progress was curtailed by a pair of free throws from Skara and a timely three-pointer by Joseph Girard, which helped Cedevita enter the last stanza dominating 61-49.

Neither team established a consistent scoring rhythm early in the final quarter. Girard scored the only basket for Cedevita during this period, while Agustin Ubal and Retin Obasohan combined for 4 points, narrowing the gap to 63-53 with five minutes remaining. Olinde came big with a monster block, after which he made a three-pointer and Benitez added a layup to bring the score to 66-60 entering crunch time. Despite Umoja Gibson responding with a three-point shot, turnovers prevented Cedevita from securing the win sooner. Olinde cut the deficit to 69-64 with a strong slam, but Nikolic made a three-pointer with 27 seconds left to seal the outcome.

Aleksej Nikolic and Thomas Kennedy starred for the Lithuanian side

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v BAXI Manresa (2025-10-01T16:30:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul engineered a well-deserved 90-98 victory at U-BT Cluj-Napoca in both teams' opening round of the BKT EuroCup campaign after Malachi Flynn stood out for the visitors, who found an extra gear in the home stretch.

Strong finish sees Bahcesehir beat Cluj, 90-98

Bahcesehir College Istanbul engineered a well-deserved 90-98 victory at U-BT Cluj-Napoca in both teams' opening round of the BKT EuroCup campaign after Malachi Flynn stood out for the visitors, who found an extra gear in the home stretch.

Flynn poured a game-high 24 points for Bahcesehir and racked up 7 boards, while Hunter Hale added 16 points for the Turkish team which shot an impressive 13 of 26 from three-point range.

Ismet Akpinar netted 13 points for the visiting team and Kenan Sipahi added 11, including a clutch three-pointer which put his outfit in a commanding position in the fourth quarter.

At the other end, Fatts Russel led Cluj on 21 points. Iverson Molinar netted 20, Dusan Miletic amassed 17 and 7 boards while Mitch Creek posted 18 points for the home team, but the support cast was almost invisible as Bahcesehir prevailed thanks to a deep roster.

It was a rollercoaster for 35 minutes as the lead changed hands tome and again, with Cluj gaining the upper hand early on the back of fervent home support in a packed gym.

Creek led the way with 9 first-quarter points for Cluj while Hale netted as many and Flynn poured in 7 points for the visitors in the first quarter, as Bahcesehir turned the tide to lead 22-25 after the opening 10 minutes.

The teams were level 45-45 at halftime after a flurry of turnovers and steals at both ends, with Cluj nosing ahead 60-56 midway through the third quarter on the back of a 9-0 blitz, triggered by a technical foul which saw Bahcesehir’s Matthew Mitchell ejected.

However, the Turkish outfit grabbed a 71-76 lead at the start of the fourth and never looked back as Sipahi and Flynn hit big three-pointers in quick succession. The hosts fought hard to stay in touch and slashed the deficit to 84-86, but another pair of huge shots from downtown by Sipahi and the unstoppable Flynn put Bahcesehir out of sight in the home straight. 

The Turkish team also prevailed in the paint, having collected 17 boards apiece at both ends while Cluj only managed 6 offensive rebounds against a physical rival which thrived from its size advantage. Cluj was also reduced to 8 of 23 from downtown in the wake of aggressive Bahcesehir defense when the chips were down. 

The Turkish team got off the mark with a fine win in Romania thanks to a flowing team effort

Lietkabelis Panevezys began its BKT EuroCup season on a high note, claiming a home win over Besiktas GAIN Istanbul 85-79 at Kalnapilio Arena. 

Lietkabelis secures surprise home win over Besiktas, 85-79

Lietkabelis Panevezys began its BKT EuroCup season on a high note, claiming a home win over Besiktas GAIN Istanbul 85-79 at Kalnapilio Arena. After missing out on the playoffs last year, the Lithuanian team made a strong statement to begin the new season.

Lietkabelis had multiple players step up as Augustine Rubit finished with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, Kristian Kullamae scored 17 points and also added 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Paulius Danusevicius chipped in 13 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Besiktas was led by Jonah Matthews with 15 points, while Devon Dotson added 14 points and Anthony Brown contributed 12 points.

The first quarter started with Dotson opening the scoring for Besiktas, converting a layup and drawing a foul. Lietkabelis answered with Kullamae’s basket, making it 3-2. Ante Zizic then converted a layup plus the and-one free throw to tie the game at 10-10, marking his first EuroCup points. Besiktas attempted multiple three-pointers throughout the period but struggled with accuracy. Meanwhile, Lietkabelis connected on 3-of-5 triples and capitalized inside the paint to pull ahead late in the quarter, leading 22-14. Top contributors for Lietkabelis in the opening period included Lazar Mutic, Kullamae, and Rubit. Besiktas managed to trim the deficit slightly, closing the quarter at 22-19.

In the second quarter, Besiktas took control by attacking the paint and building momentum. Ismael Kamagate asserted a physical presence inside, dominating the paint on both ends. The team’s defense also pressured Lietkabelis into 6 turnovers. Lietkabelis stayed in the game thanks to Lavrinovicius’s three-pointer. Besiktas leaned on Dotson, Matthews, and Brown to push the ball inside, taking an 8-point lead into halftime, 43-35.

The third quarter opened with Ante Zizic’s dunk for Besiktas, pushing the margin to double digits at 35-45. Lietkabelis responded with a 15-0 run, fueled by Rubit’s dominance in the paint, taking a 50-45 lead. Dotson’s three-pointer ended the run, and Matthews’ contributions helped Besiktas close the quarter slightly ahead, 57-55.

Lietkabelis carried the momentum into the fourth quarter with hot perimeter shooting, hitting three straight triples to take a 66-61 lead. Strong performances from Kullamae and Rubit in the paint made an impact on both ends of the floor. Danusevicius’s triple extended the lead to 75-68, and Lietkabelis pulled further away with back-to-back shots, holding off Besiktas to claim its first win of the season.

Augustine Rubit played a key role in the win

Veolia Towers Hamburg guard Osaro Rich suffered a radius fracture during Tuesday’s BKT EuroCup game against Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem

Hamburg loses Osaro Rich to a broken wrist

Veolia Towers Hamburg guard Osaro Rich suffered a radius fracture during Tuesday’s BKT EuroCup game against Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem. The injury occurred just before halftime after a successful basket, when he landed awkwardly on his right arm. Rich was immediately taken to the hospital, where the fracture was confirmed. Surgery is scheduled soon, and Rich is expected to be sidelined for several months.

Rich had been off to a strong start with 10 points in 7 minutes before the injury. This is his third EuroCup campaign with Hamburg. It’s the second early season loss for the team after Niklas Wimberg went down with a broken finger in training camp.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Gute Besserung, OJ! 🙏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeoliaTowers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeoliaTowers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hamburg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hamburg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/0RGvTSpFDb">https://t.co/0RGvTSpFDb</a></p>&mdash; Veolia Towers Hamburg (@hamburgtowers) <a href="https://twitter.com/hamburgtowers/status/1973358447904301257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More Hamburg basketball news

The guard suffered the injury during Tuesday's BKT EuroCup opener  

All eyes were on Jaleen Smith heading into the opening night of the BKT EuroCup season. But by the final buzzer, it was another Smith – Mark Smith – who stole the spotlight.

Mark Smith outshined Jaleen in the Battle of the Smiths

All eyes were on [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaleen-smith/011192/) heading into the opening night of the BKT EuroCup season. But by the final buzzer, it was another Smith – [Mark Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mark-smith/013969/) – who stole the spotlight.

In what many expected to be a statement win for Jaleen Smith and his new-look Turk Telekom Ankara side, coached by 2022-23 EuroCup Coach of the Year Erdem Can, it was [ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/ulm/) and Mark Smith who flipped the script.

Making his EuroCup debut, the 26-year-old guard was a steady, commanding presence throughout, guiding Ulm to a confident victory. Known for developing young prospects, Ulm has found a more seasoned gem in Smith, who made an immediate impact.

He finished the night with a game-high 23 points, along with 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, a 27 PIR, and a +22 plus/minus – the highest of any player across the four opening-night fixtures. Even when Ulm coach Ty Harrelson tried to manage his minutes, Smith’s influence was too valuable to keep off the court for long.

“He led us from the beginning,” Harrelson told EuroLeague TV. “He showed that we can take a lead and hold on to it. I thought he really had command of the game. It’s unfortunate with the foul situations... a couple of times we were up by 10 and I had to take him out, but we managed to hold on. I thought he was great.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Magic made by Mark ✨🧡<br><br>Mit 23 Punkten, 7 Assists &amp; einem PIR von 27 führt er uns zum Auswärtssieg in Ankara! 🙌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/uuulmer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#uuulmer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/weareone?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#weareone</a> <a href="https://t.co/MdbxvqBCRi">pic.twitter.com/MdbxvqBCRi</a></p>&mdash; ratiopharm ulm (@ratiopharmulm) <a href="https://twitter.com/ratiopharmulm/status/1973100459318526237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Smith started modestly, with just 3 points and 3 rebounds in the first quarter, but exploded in the second, pouring in 15 points to reach 18 by halftime. Although foul trouble limited his third-quarter impact, he still added another 5 points and 3 assists before eventually fouling out with 31 seconds to play. Fortunately, teammates [Chris Ledlum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/christopher-ledlum/013968/) and [Nelson Weidemann](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nelson-weidemann/006245/) held their nerve at the line to seal the win.

“We have a great team,” Smith said postgame. “They help make me better, and I try to make them better – make plays, get us going on offense. That’s all I try to do.”

On a night when Jaleen Smith was expected to shine, it was Mark Smith who delivered an MVP-level performance. If this debut is any indication, Ulm fans have plenty to look forward to with Smith leading the charge this season.

Turk Telekom Ankara v ratiopharm Ulm (2025-09-30T16:00:00.000Z)