Valencia Basket fought back from a 21-point deficit to defeat Virtus Segafredo Bologna 96-97 on the road in a game that lived up to its billing with two of the 7DAYS EuroCup's main favorites going head-to-head. Virtus raced ahead 46-25 midway through the second quarter before Valencia started to chip away back into the Group B battle.
Valencia erases 21-point deficit to down Virtus on road, 96-97

The guests finally managed to get ahead with under 3 minutes left and then converted all 6 free throws in the final 35 seconds to secure their first road win of the season for a 2-2 mark. Klemen Prepelic scored 20 points - including a three-pointer in the final minute - to pace Valencia, while Sam Van Rossom scored 15 points, Martin Hermannsson and Jasiel Rivero both had 11 and Bojan Dubljevic finished with 10 points. Virtus dropped to 2-2 in wasting a 30-point fireworks show by Kyle Weems. Milos Teodosic added 18 points and 9 assists and Marco Belinelli chipped in 10 points in the loss.
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Weems started the game with a steal and layup-and-one for the hosts. Van Rossom scored the guests’ first basket, but Virtus was unimpressed with Teodosic and Amar Alibegovic draining three-pointers for a 9-2 lead. Valencia was able to keep up with Weems and Virtus thanks to triples from Van Rossom and Hermannsson to make it 17-12. Teodosic and Alibegovic both hit from deep again as the advantage grew to 25-14. The guests were able to get to the foul line with 7 free throws to cut the margin to 29-23. Virtus followed with the final 4 points of a high-scoring first quarter and led 33-23.
Belinelli’s jumper started the second quarter with Xabi Lopez-Arostegui hitting at the other end. Virtus got hot from long range with Belinelli, Isaia Cordinier and Weems all draining three-pointers as the cushion swelled to 46-25. Valencia responded with a 0-8 run with Prepelic converting a four-point play to pull within 46-33. Virtus answered with 5 straight points, but Valencia had gained some rhythm and Van Rossom and Millan Jimenez both hit three-pointers in a 3-10 run to close the deficit to 54-43. It was 57-45 at the break.
Valencia built on the momentum from the end of the first half with the first 7 points of the third quarter, including a three by Van Rossom. Weems got rolling again with a jumper and three-pointer to help Virtus keep Valencia at an arm’s length. Teodosic and Alessandro Pajola both hit from deep as the cushion was up to 71-59. Valencia fought back thanks to the long ball with Prepelic, Hermannsson and Louis Labeyrie all draining triples and the visitors were within 75-70. The score was 79-72 after 30 minutes.
Valencia continued its fight in the fourth quarter, Rivero working hard on the offensive glass and Labeyrie scoring inside to trim it to 79-76. Virtus did not score in the first 3 minutes of the final frame until Kevin Hervey’s three-pointer. Valencia would not be stopped and Lopez-Arostegui converted an and-one and the advantage was down to 84-83 with under 4 minutes to play. The guests finally nosed ahead with a three-pointer from Dubjlevic to make it 86-87. Teodosic answered right back for Virtus and after Dubljevic tied it with a free throw, Virtus maestro Teodosic banked in a jumper off the glass for a 90-88 lead with 56 seconds remaining. Valencia was not ready to concede and Prepelic splashed a three-pointer to go back ahead 90-91. After Weems missed a triple, Lopez-Arostegui converted 2 foul shots with 35 seconds remaining for a 90-93 advantage. Rivero and Van Rossom both hit free throws in the final 35 seconds to fend off triples from Belinelli and Weems to get the win.