Fenerbahce Ulker beat Alba Berlin 82-73

Mirsad Turkcan poured in 25 points including 4 three-pointers as Fenerbahce Ulker collected its first victory of the regular season in Group C, beating Alba Berlin 82-73 at home in Istanbul on Thursday. Turkcan scored 17 of his points in the first half and also grabbed 9 rebounds. Damir Kaan Mrsic nailed 5 triples in scoring 17 points and dished 4 assists, while Oguz Savas came off the bench for 12 points. And Emir Preldzic added 9 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals. The Turkish side made 12 triples total in bouncing back from its opening-week loss at Tau Ceramica to even its record at 1-1. The game also featured the debut of 16-year-old Fenerbahce prospect Enes Kanter, who had 5 points, 3 rebounds and 1 steal in nearly 10 minutes of action – becoming the first player born in the year 1992 to play in the Euroleague. Berlin dropped to 1-1 in the group despite a game-high 26 points from Julius Jenkins. But the guard did not get enough support even though Immanuel McElroy added 15 points and 9 rebounds. Adam Chubb had 9 points and 6 rebounds in a losing effort. Berlin did not help itself by making just 13-of-26 free throws.

Berlin took advantage of some early Fenerbahce turnovers with Chubb and Steffen Hamann giving Alba a 0-4 lead. Turkcan knocked down two three-pointers in pulling the hosts ahead 8-7. Hamann’s lay-up knotted the game at 11-11 but Preldzic triple started a 12-4 surge to finish the first period, with Devin Smith also hitting from long range as Fenerbahce led 23-15.

Jenkins opened the scoring for Berlin in the second quarter with a three-point play only to see Kanter put in a lay-up for a 25-18 advantage. Bogdan Tanjevic had his reserves in the game and they tried to stay ahead by launching three-pointers and long two-point shots. And Berlin got out on the break with Jenkins and McElroy closing the gap and Chubb evening things at 25-25. Jenkins’s lay-up finished off a 0-9 run for a 25-27 lead. But Dragan Dojcin was called for an unsportsmanlike foul and Turkcan made all four foul shots to give the Turks back the lead. Mrsic knocked down a three-pointer for a 38-33 lead and then Turkcan nailed another trey just before the buzzer as Fenerbahce led 41-37 going into the break.

After Gasper Vidmar started the second half, Rashad Wright hit a triple only to get answered by Turkcan’s long three-ball. Jenkins refused to let his team go down, knocking down a three-pointer to knot the game at 46-46. Mrsic hit from long range to make it 51-46 but Jenkins answered again with a trey. Mrsic, however, nailed again from downtown and Marques Green’s triple gave Fenerbahce a 59-53 advantage. Jenkins was on target again from behind the arc to cut the deficit to one. But Savas’s basket gave the hosts a 61-59 lead after three periods.

Preldzic hit the first basket of the fourth and Berlin could not find a score with Mrsic’s three-pointer making it 66-59. Alba finally hit the scoring board on Jenkins’s triple more than three minutes into the fourth. But Mrsic answered right back with a trey of his own. Smith’s jumper had Fenerbahce ahead 71-63 midway through the fourth. Turkcan hit yet again from long range down the stretch as Berlin would not get closer than seven points the rest of the way.