Karsiyaka beats Besiktas, locks first place

In an all-Turkish showdown, Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir locked first place in Last 32 Group M by downing Besiktas Integral Forex Istanbul 73-64 at home on Wednesday. Karsiyaka improved to 5-0 in Group M and has already advanced to the next phase, the eighthfinals, with home court advantage. Besiktas dropped to 2-3 and still has chances to go through. D.J. Strawberry paced the winners with 17 points. Bobby Dixon added 14 while Jon Diebler and Baris Hersek each had 12 for Karsiyaka. Ryan Broekhoff had 18 points for Besiktas while JaJuan Johnson added 14. Karsiyaka led 19-17 after 10 minutes but Johnson had 12 second-quarter points to make Besiktas get a 33-37 edge at halftime. Juan Palacios and Diebler shined after the break and a three-pointer by Sonen Senturk gave the hosts a 51-50 after 30 minutes. Karsiyaka boosted its margin to 62-54 midway through the fourth quarter and never looked back.

Dixon and Strawberry shined early to give Karsiyaka a 5-0 lead. Dogan Senli struck from downtown and Engin Atsur tied it at 5-5. Diebler and Dixon hit back-to-back triples, Broekhoff also downed one from beyond the arc and Senlu kept Besiktas within 11-10. Kenny Gabriel dunked and Hersek joined the three-point shootout but Scott Reynolds brought the guests as close as 19-17 after 10 minutes. Back-to-back baskets by Johnson gave Besiktas a 19-21 edge early in the second quarter. Diebler answered with back-to-back triples but a red hot Johnson tied it at 25-25. Chris Lofton and Strawberry traded three-pointer and Johnson gave Besiktas a 28-30 edge. Broekhoff insisted from downtown and Johnson dunked to make it a seven-point game, 28-35. Erkan Veyseloglu and Dixon got Karsiyaka a bit closer, 33-37, at halftime. Veyseloglu scored down low right after the break and a three-pointer by Hersek tied it at 39-39. Broekhoff dunked and bettered Palacios's layup with a triple. Palacios and Dixon tried to change things for Karsiyaka but free throws by John Holland gave Besiktas a 45-48 edge. Palacios scored again and Sonen Senturk improved Johnson's dunk with a three-pointer for a 51-50 Karsiyaka lead after 30 minutes. Strawberry followed free throws with a layup early in the fourth quarter but a triple by Reynolds kept the guests within 55-53. A red hot Strawberry made it a seven-point game, 60-53, with under 6 minutes left. Hersek made free throws and a jumper by Palacios sealed the outcome, 64-55. Reynolds and Holland tried to bring Besiktas back to life but Karsiyaka had already cruised to an important win.