Proximus Spirou Charleroi rallies from 12 down to beat Venice

Proximus Spirou Charleroi stayed alive in the race for a spot in the Eurocup Last 32 by erasing a 12-point fourth quarter deficit to win 86-83 at home over Umana Reyer Venice. Jimmy Baron scored 18 points as one of four players to score at least 15 points for Charleroi, which trailed 61-73 early in the fourth. Kevin Tumba collected 17 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks while Pavel Pumprla had 16 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists and Billy Baron tallied 15 points for the winners. Charleroi’s third straight victory improves its record to 3-5 in Group C. Venice’s loss evened its record at 4-4; the Italian club would have booked a spot in the Last 32 with a victory in Belgium. Hrvoje Peric scored 17 points and Jeff Viggiano had 15 points in a losing effort. Mike Green chipped in 13 points and Josh Owens added 10 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists.

Jordan Heath opened the scoring for the hosts and Peric evened the game at 2-2. Owens’s put-back gave Venice its first lead at 2-4. The advantage was 4-10 after 4 points from Owens and 6 from Peric. Billy Baron responded with a three-pointer before Tumba’s three-point play and a second basket made it 14-13. After Philipp Goss’s free throws put Venice back ahead, Green tallied 4 points and Jarrius Jackson’s foul shot had the guests up 16-22. The margin was 20-24 after 10 minutes. Pumprla cut the deficit to 2, but Green scored back-to-back baskets and Viggiano nailed a triple to push the lead to 10 points – 25-35. Sacha Massot and Jimmy Baron both knocked down three-pointers to get the deficit down to 31-38. Viggiano scored again and Peric’s foul shots had the gap at 31-42. Goss’s long ball increased the advantage to 33-45. Charleroi did not give up as Pumprla converted a three-point play and assisted on Tumba’s basket to make it 38-45. Goss and Peric tallied again to put the guests ahead 40-49 at intermission.

Tumba got the scoring going in the second half, but Charleroi could not really cut into the deficit. Michael Bramos’ three-pointer made it a double-digit game and Owens’s basket had Venice up 46-58. Jimmy Baron tallied 4 points and Tumba’s put-back had the hosts within 54-60. After a Green hit a three for Venice, Pumprla scored 4 straight points and the gap was down to 58-63. But Viggiano’s triple pushed the lead back to 10. The guests were up 61-68 going into the fourth quarter. Michele Ruzzier scored his first basket to start the final quarter and added a three-point play as the Venice lead reached 61-73. Billy Baron’s three-pointer got Charleroi on the board, but the guests were still ahead 66-77 after Bramos’s basket with 6:29 to play. After Tumba free throws, Pumprla grabbed a steal and converted a three-point play to trim the gap to 71-77. Three failed offensive possessions for Venice followed and Billy and Jimmy Baron both scored to knot the game at 77-77. Viggiano snapped the Venice rut with a basket and he scored again after Maxime Gaudoux had given Charleroi the lead. But the 80-81 lead would be the final advantage for the guests. Tumba converted after an offensive rebound by Pumprla to make it 82-81 with 1:28 to play. Pumprla pushed it to 84-81 after a Goss miss and Owens turnover. And after Peric turned the ball over with 20 seconds to play, Jimmy Baron scored with four seconds left to ice the game, 86-81.