Chappell sparks Reyer past Brescia
Umana Reyer Venice held off fellow Italian League squad Germania Brescia Leonessa on Tuesday night 68-60 to leave both sides at 1-1 after two games in Top 16 Group F. Jeremy Chappell ran the show with 19 points for Reyer, Mitchell Watt netted 15 for the winners and Michael Bramos scored 11 with a couple of important triples thrown in. The home side collected 13 key offensive rebounds and won the battle of the boards 40-33. Andrea Zerini paced Brescia with 13 points, Awudu Abass added 12 and Deandre Lansdowne scored 11 in defeat.
Reyer jumped out to a 5-2 lead after a triple from Chappell and a jump shot from Ike Udanoh. Brescia struggled to get its offense going, a theme though would continue all night. The two teams traded points as Reyer remained in front. The hosts made it 12-4 thanks to another Chappell jumper before Brescia called a timeout to sort things out. Reyer extended the lead as Chappell hit a long three to make it 17-6. Brescia got close, but Chappell got himself into double figures in the first quarter with an easy layup and the quarter ended with Reyer in control 20-13. Brescia closed the gap as Abass, the first scorer in the first quarter, opened the scoring in the second too. It was Reyer’s turn to take a timeout as Brian Sacchetti landed a long triple to make it 20-18. Brescia made it a 1-point game from a free throw, but Bramos buried a pair of threes and Reyer was soon back in charge at 26-19. Andrea De Nicolao hit another triple late in the second as Brescia’s hopes of keeping it close at the break were dashed. Watt made it worse for the visitors with seconds left to make it 33-22 after a dominant first half.
Chappell scored early int the third and the gap between the sides continued to expand at 35-22. Brescia responded, but Julyan Stone hit another three. The teams continued to exchange scores, which suited Reyer. Lansdowne made the mountain a little smaller with 3 free throws to get within 48-31. Brescia made a comeback of sorts to within 52-38, but Gasper Vidmar won a rebound and finished close to the rim to leave it 54-38 after three quarters. There was a flurry of scores early in the third with Zerini landing a pair of two-pointers. Chappell put an end to thoughts of a comeback with a confidence-crushing three to make it 60-43. Abass scored a couple of dunks with a couple of minutes to go in the game. Though Brescia still trailed by double digits, there was a nervousness creeping into Reyer’s game at 64-54. De Nicolao scored though to ease concerns of a comeback from the home fans. Despite the difference, Brescia never quit, but couldn’t get any closer.
Player of the game
Jeremy Chappell was the game’s leading scorer, but he was far more than that for Reyer as he scored in the clutch and kept the scoreboard ticking every time Brescia tried to make a comeback. His three-pointer in the last quarter was a dagger through the Brescia hearts.
Game-changing moments
Brescia fell behind early, but came back in the second quarter. Michael Bramos hit back-to-back threes to kill all hopes at 27-19 and Reyer never looked back from there.
Next game
Reyer next plays Promitheas Patras on Tuesday, January 21. Brescia welcomes EWE Baskets Oldenburg the following evening.
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Eurocupbasketball.com