Karsiyaka holds serve with 81-68 home win

Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir made its Eurocup return in style by racing past visiting Trabzonspor Medical Park 81-68 in an all-Turkish opener in Last 16 Group K. Karsiyaka led by double digits during most of the game and its defense never allowed Trabzonspor an easy opening to challenge for the win. New signing Bracey Wright came off Karsiyaka's bench for 25 points to lead all scorers. Kenan Sipahi added 16 and Kerem Gonlum 11 for the winners. Trabzonspor got 17 points each from Dwight Hardy and Damian Kulig, plus 10 and 9 rebounds from Andrija Stipanovic.

Kulig's game-opening triple was all that Trabzonspor saw of the lead as Sipahi scored 6 points in a 10-0 response for Karsiyaka. Sipahi hit his second triple among 6 more points to keep the hosts in charge at 18-11. Wright finished out the first quarter with 6 points in 2 minutes to give the hosts their biggest lead yet, 26-17. Gonlum scored 6 points in Karsiyaka's 10-0 burst to begin the second quarter leading 36-17. Kulig and Hardy responded from deep for Trabzonspor to spark a 2-12 run to get within 38-29. The teams traded points until Josh Carter, Colton Iverson and Can Altintig finished the half with a 6-2 run that kept Karsiyaka ahead 47-33.

Trabzonspor started the second half with a 2-7 run to get back in the game at 49-41. Karsiyaka turned on its defense then, holding the visitors to just 4 points over more than 5 minutes. Meanwhile, Wright joined Egemen Guven in raising the difference again on the way to a 57-45 lead after three quarters. A triple-shot of three-pointers early in the fourth quarter - 2 by Wright and another by Justin Carter - boosted Karsiyaka's lead to 68-47. Kulig and Hardy tried to reel it back from downtown for Trabzonspor, getting the guests within 74-58. With the long view in the group, the visitors kept chipping away, with Stipanovic taking his turn scoring, but the outcome was never in doubt as Karsiyaka fans got to celebrate a win in their team's return to the Eurocup.