Andjusic, Bourg shoot down Bahcesehir

JL Bourg en Bresse enjoyed a dream debut in the 7DAYS EuroCup, hitting 15 three-pointers in a big 82-99 road win over fellow competition newcomer Bahcesehir Koleji Istanbul in the opening game of Group A on Wednesday night. Bourg took the lead right away, built a double-digit lead in the first quarter and never allowed the hosts closer than 10 the rest of the way. Danilo Andjusic led the winners with 22 points on 4-for-5 three-point shooting plus 7 assists. Zachery Peacock netted 20 points on 4-for-6 from long range, while Pierre Pelos and Maxime Courby scored 14 apiece for Bourg, with the latter going 4-for-4 behind the arc. Erick Green scored 23 points for the hosts, Alex Perez finished with 18 points, Jamal Jones scored 17 and Peyton Aldridge 10 in a losing effort.

Bourg had a dream start to its first game with Alen Omic scoring from close range and Adjusic from long range in a 0-10 run that helped open a 4-14 lead. Green and Perez tried to get the hosts going by combining for 13 first-quarter points. However, Andjusic had 8 more points himself on the other end, including a three-point play and a triple, before Peacock added 7 points of his own to make it 15-31 after 10 minutes. Aldridge hit 2 triples early in the second for Bahcesehir and a driving layup from Perez cut the deficit to 27-37. But Bourg needed just four trips down the floor to answer with a 0-9 run with all the baskets coming from close range before back-to-back three-pointers from Peacock made it 31-54. Green and Aldridge replied with an 8-0 run, but Peacock's buzzer-beating triple made it 39-57 at halftime.

Jones nailed a pair of long jumpers for Bahcesehir, but Andjusic and Peacock kept the hosts at bay. A triple from Jones and a fastbreak dunk from Josh Owens made it 53-66, but Pelos, Andjusic and Hugo Benitez hit consecutive triples to open a 20-point margin, 55-75. The visitors entered the third quarter up 61-79 and restored a 20-point lead early in the fourth before Perez hit a triple and a tough jumper and Jones nailed another triple to get within 70-84. But Courby nailed pair of threes for the visitors before another 0-8 run capped by another triple from Courby increased it to 72-95, icing the game.

Three-point barrage

Bourg shot 15 for 24 from long range, but it especially shot the lights out in the first three quarters, netting 12 triples on its first 15 attempts during that time. Bourg made its first 4 three-pointers in the first quarter and again its first 4 in the third to take control and open a comfortable 20-point lead.

Stats advantage

Bourg finished with 23 assists, compared to just 8 by Bahcesehir. The visitors had 8 assists - and 0 turnovers - in the first quarter alone. Bourg committed 17 turnovers over the final three quarters, but that did not hurt them.

Veterans into history books

These two teams might have made their respective EuroCup debuts, but it was a pair of well-known stars that scored historic first baskets for each team. Erick Green's jumper was the one to put Bahcesehir on board before center Alen Omic opened the scoring for Bourg with a layup.

Newcomers collide

This clash marked the second year in a row that Group A had two newcomers playing in a season opener after Promitheas Patras and Maccabi Rishon LeZion clashed last season.

Next up

In Round 2 next week, both teams will face former competition champions. Bahcesehir will travel to face UNICS Kazan, while Bourg will play its first-ever EuroCup home game against Joventut Badalona.