Fenerbahce Ulker defeated Bennet Cantu 76-83

Fenerbahce Ulker scored a monumental win to not only reach the Top 16, but to climb to first place in Group A with a tough 76-83 victory at Bennet Cantu. Oguz Savas scored a season-high 21 points to pace the Turkish champs, who improved to 6-4 in handing Cantu its first loss of the season. Cantu dropped to 5-5, but also heads to the next stage from third place in the group. Bojan Bogdanovic added 19 with two crucial three-pointers for FB Ulker and Roko Ukic added 17 - 14 of which came in the second half. Giorgi Shermadini and Maarten Leunen scored 13 apiece for Cantu and veteran Denis Marconato added 10.

Manuchar Markohisvili opened the scoring from downtown off a screen before Marconato popped out to hit a mid-range jumper for a 5-0 start. Gasper Vidmar from the foul line stopped a three-minute scoreless period for the guests and then played one on one down low for a layup. Emir Preldzic scored 3 from the foul line for his team’s first lead, 5-6, and then assisted Vidmar for a two-handed dunk to capped a 0-10 run finishing with a fastbreak layup. Andrea Cinciarini posted free throws and Maarten Leunen hit a three from the top of the key to stay on 10-11. A Savas put back and Nicolas Gianella jumper kept the teams closer. Savas drilled free throws, then Marconato bagged a jump hook and a short jumper to put again Bennet in front 16-15, but Curtis Jerrells went to end with 1.43 seconds left, but missed the additional free throw to finish 16-17 for the visitors at the end of the first quarter.

Savas and Marconato exchanged jumpers from mid range, then another put-back by the Turkish big man made it 18-21. Marconato finished a pick-and-roll with an easy layup, Jerrells and Kaya Peker scored from the foul line for 20-24, but Nicolas Mazzarino kept Cantu in charge from downtown. Vladimir Micov drew a foul and converted his attempts from the line for a new 25-24 home team lead. Bogdanovic slammed in the ball to finish a break after a steal by James Gist. Shermadini grabbed an offensive rebound to score. Preldzic remained accurate from the foul line, Bogdanovic scored from the line and Mazzarino with a reverse layup tied things at 29-29. Micov scored both from the line to put Cantu ahead 31-29. Ukic tied it assisted by Preldzic before Gianello missed a jumper on the buzzer to finish tied 31-31 at halftime.

Leunen from mid range scored to open the third quarter and Micov drained a three, but was answered by Ukic who went all the way. The Cantu forward scored again from long distance for a 39-34 advantage. Five points in a row by Bogdanovic put again Fenerbahce close on 40-39, but Markohisvili drained a three from the corner to delight the crowd. An Ukic jumper in the lane fuelled Ulker, which tied at 43-43 on Savas’s layup in transition. The guests went back in front with Ukic from the foul line, but Leunen was still hot for another triple and Shermadini converted a free throw for the hosts, 48-45. Ukic was again the man fueling Fenerbahce with two free throws. Gist made a huge block on Shermadini, but Cinciarini scored from the foul line for the 49-47. Ukic again with a short jumper tied it. Leunen and Preldzic traded baskets. Shermadini made a huge dunk, Marko Tomas a jumper and Cinciarini and incredible rainbow shot for 55-53. Savas tied it with free throws at 55-55 as the quarter finished.

Engin Atsur found easy points in the open court and repeated with a long three for a 55-60 cushion. Bogdanovic completed a three-point-play to cap a 0-8 run, but Cantu was ready to fight and a three-pointer of Markohisvili and a three-point-play by Shermadini put them back on track at 61-63. Savas scored a pair from the line, copied by Shermadini and Bogdanovic for 65-67 for the visitors at the midway point of the last quarter. Back-to-back three pointers by Bogdanovic and 5 points in a row from Gianluca Basile put 70-73 on the scoreboard. Savas was again perfect at the foul line, then completed a three-point-play to go on 70-78 with three minutes left. A deep three by Basile sparked the Cantu hopes, but an alley-oop Gist dunk gave a 73-80 margin to Fenerbahce that sealed the win. A free throw of Basile and layup of Gianella fixed the final result.