Virtus Segafredo Bologna grabbed its second consecutive home win by downing Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade 84-72 in Round 22 on Tuesday. Virtus also managed to get the tie-break advantage against Zvezda, which registered an 83-74 win in Round 11. Virtus improved to 10-12 in the standings, while Zvezda recorded its third consecutive loss and went down to 10-12. Virtus led from start to finish for a well-deserved victory.
Virtus stops Zvezda, 84-72

Toko Shengelia led the winners with 15 points. Kyle Weems added 13 and Isaia Cordinier and Mam Jaiteh each scored 11 for Virtus, which had terrific ball circulation in this game. The hosts finished the game with 28 assists and just 11 turnovers. Luca Vildoza led Zvezda with 20 points and Dalibor Ilic added 10 for the visitors.
Game Videos
Jaiteh got Virtus going with a jump hook and a layup, igniting a 9-0 opening run which Milos Teodosic capped with a bomb from beyond the arc. Daniel Hackett and Shengelia each scored around the basket to make it a double-digit game, 15-4. Alessandro Pajola followed a layup-plus-foul with a triple in a 12-0 run that Cordinier finished with a jump hook, good for a 27-9 Virtus lead. Vildoza stepped up for Zvezda and got help from Ilic to make it 33-19 early in the second quarter. Shengelia and Jaiteh kept Virtus way ahead, 48-35, at halftime.
Weems buried a couple of three-pointers and a six-meter jumper soon after the break to keep Virtus fully in charge, 59-47. Virtus improved its defense and found a new go-to guy in Shengelia, who caused Zvezda to call timeout at 64-49. Bako's dunk highlighted a 6-0 run that broke the game open, 70-51, after 30 minutes. Filip Petrusev and Ilic tried to ignite Zvezda's comeback early in the fourth quarter. Cordinier and Marco Belinelli quickly restored a 76-57 Virtus margin with 7 minutes remaining. Little changed after that, as the hosts kept a safe margin until the final buzzer.