Banvit rallies on the road to beat Bilbao

Courtney Fortson scored all of his 12 points in the final 7 minutes of the game, and Banvit Bandirma came back from a fourth quarter double-digit deficit to beat Dominion Bilbao Basket on the road 76-85 on Wednesday night. Banvit scored 32 points in the final quarter, improving to 1-1 record in Group G, the same record as Bilbao which took a double-digit lead at the start of the third, then again in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. But Fortson fueled Banvit’s 4-20 run, and the visitors also scored the final 8 points in the last minute of the game to get the victory. Adrien Moerman paced Banvit with 25 points, and also had 4 steals. Fortson dished 6 assists, and Keith Simmons also scored 12 in victory. Dairis Bertans netted 15 for the hosts, while Giorgos Bogris had 10 points plus 8 rebounds, and Alex Ruoff also scored 10 for Bilbao.

Moerman opened the game in style, scoring 12 of Banvit’s first 14 points, including a pair of triples. It put Banvit up 7-14, before Bertans hit a three-pointer for the hosts, and Bogris had a put-back, sparking a 7-0 run that tied the game. Banvit went back in front with Jackie Carmichael scoring 5 points, including a three-point play, as the visitors held 16-19 after 10 minutes. Triples from Bertans and Alex Suarez early in the second quarter gave Bilbao its first lead of the night, 24-21. Banvit answered, with Dominique Johnson hitting a three-pointer, and another basket from the same player made it 29-30. However, Alex Mumbru buried a three for Bilbao, and baskets from Bogris and Ruoff opened 40-32 lead. Moerman on one end, and Ruoff on the other scored four points each in the final minute of the half, making it 44-36 at the break.

Clevin Hannah’s three-pointer made it 49-36 after 2 minutes of the third, but Simmons answered with 7 points, including a triple. Two-pointers from Gasper Vidmar and Moerman, followed by Moerman’s triple got Banvit within 53-50. A.J. Slaughter also hit from downtown for the visitors, but not before Dejan Todorovic and Ruoff made sure Bilbao get some breathing room, making it 61-53 after three quarters. Bertans’ triple restored a double-digit lead, 64-53, but Nusret Yildrim hit from long range for Banvit, before Slaughter hit two more and made it 66-62. Fortson, scoreless until that point, strung together 6 points to tie the game at 68-68, then added a fastbreak basket and two free throws to give Banvit 68-73. With 3 minutes to go in the fourth, Bogris snapped a 4-20 spurt, and Mumbru made free throws, but Simmons finished another fast break to keep Banvit in front, 72-75. Bogris and Mumbru kept Bilbao within a single point, but Simmons knocked down a three-pointer with 52 seconds to go, making it 76-80. Banvit made a defensive stand, then used an unsportsmanlike foul from Axel Hervelle to seal the deal from the free throw line.