Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul gave new head coach Dimitris Itoudis a happy debut by comfortably downing FC Bayern Munich 62-74 in the season opener at a sold-out Audi Dome.
Dominant Fenerbahce downs Bayern, 62-74
The visitors led from start to finish, and a 2-15 run to bridge the third and fourth quarters ensured there was no late scare. Tonye Jekiri shined with 16 points and 6 rebounds. Nick Calathes (12 points), Nigel Hayes-Davis (11) and DyShawn Pierre (10) also scored in double digits. Othello Hunter excelled for Bayern with 18 points and 7 rebounds. Fenerbahce’s only negative was Scottie Wilbekin limping out early in the second half and not returning, but it didn’t look serious.
Fenerbahce raced into a 0-7 lead with new signings Calathes, Hayes-Davis and Wilbekin all scoring. The lead grew to double digits, before an 11-2 run including two triples from Corey Walden pulled Bayern closer, 19-21, after 10 minutes. Jekiri and Marko Guduric pushed the visitors into another double-digit lead, 23-36, before three-pointers from Cassius Winston and Hunter made it 31-40 at the break.
Five straight points from Jekiri kept Fenerbahce ahead, and a 2-11 run with scoring contributions throughout the team made it 46-59 with 10 minutes remaining. Bayern never looked like recovering as Fenerbahce kept up the pressure, with two baskets apiece for Hayes-Davis and Johnathan Motley making it 54-74 to remove any doubt.