Bamberg edges Olimpija in OT, qualifies

In a thrilling showdown that needed overtime and went down to the final seconds, Brose Baskets Bamberg advanced to the eighthfinals by edging Union Olimpija Ljubljana 91-90 at home in Group K on Wednesday. Bamberg improved to 3-2 and will finish second in Group K behind FC Bayern Munich and will face Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar in the eighthfinals. Olimpija dropped to 1-4 and is out of chances to reach the next round. Trevor Mbakwe paced the winners with 20 points on 9-of-11 two-point shots, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks. Bradley Wanamaker added 16 points and 10 assists, Ryan Thompson also had 16 points while Janis Strelnieks got 10 for Bamberg. Alen Omic led Olimpija with 23 points and 9 rebounds. Marko Marinovic added 20 points and 8 assists, Dino Muric had 16 points, Klemen Prepelic got 11 while Sasu Salin contributed 10 for the guests, but missed a critical free throw with 3 seconds left which would have put Olimpija ahead. Prepelic gave Olimpija a 87-90 lead but Elias Harris stole the show with consecutive baskets which allowed Bamberg to win the game and qualify to the next round.

Thompson and Wanamaker led an opening 6-0 run. Blaz Mahkovic hit free throws but Thompson and Dalibor Bagaric gave Bamberg a 10-2 margin. Marinovic struck twice from downtown and got help from Omic to get Olimpija within 12-11. Dawan Robinson and Mahkovic traded layups and Daniel Theis restored a 16-13 Bamberg edge. Omic gave Olimpija its first lead, 16-17, but Mbakwe and Strelnieks put Bamberg back ahead, 20-17, after 10 minutes. Salin hit a jumper early in the second quarter and free throws by Wanamaker and Thompson gave Bamberg a 23-19 edge. Dino Muric and Salin stepped up for Olimpija, tying the game at 26-26. A layup by Vasilije Vucetic and a three-pointer by Salin made Bamberg call timeout at 28-31. An outstanding four-point play by Marinovic boosted the guests' to 30-37. Josh Duncan and Strelnieks kept Bamberg within 35-41 at halftime. Thompson and Wanamaker fueled a 7-0 run which gave Bamberg a 42-41 edge right after the break. Mahkovic scored down low and three-pointers by Marinovic and Prepelic put Olimpija back ahead, 47-49. Thompson had 5 points in an 8-0 run that gave the hosts a 55-49 margin. Prepelic and Omic kept Olimpija closer, 57-53, after 30 minutes. Muric and Omic got Olimpija within 60-58 early in the fourth quarter. Mbakwe and Tadda stepped up for Bamberg to make it an eight-point game, 68-60. Olimpija kept running its offense through Muric, who singlehandedly brought the guests within 72-68. Marinovic followed a triple with a layup and Muric tied it at 75-75 with 2:35 left. Theis hit a critical three-pointer and Mbakwe dunked again but Muric and Prepelic kept Olimpija within 80-79. Mbakwe dunked but free throws by Omic and Salin sent the game to overtime, 82-82.

Omic took over with a three-point play early in overtime and Muric erased Mbakwe's jumper with a layup for an 84-87 Olimpija lead. Mbakwe split free throws and Wanamaker tied it again, 87-87. Prepelic answered from downtown and Elias Harris dunked already in the final minute. Olimpija called timeout at 89-90 but Muric and Omic missed respectuve shots. A layup by Harris sealed the outcome with 2 seconds left, as he drew a foul and missed the free throw to run the game clock down.