Strasbourg turns tables on Oldenburg to win eighthfinals series

After losing Game 1 at home, Strasbourg rebounded in style by routing EWE Baskets Oldenburg 64-93 to easily win their Eurocup Eighthfinals series. Strasbourg advanced to the quarterfinals and its opponent will be decided after Wednesday’s games. Strasbourg took charge with a 0-11 first-quarter run and led by 13 at halftime. After Oldenburg closed to within 9 early in the third quarter, Kyle Weems, Rod Beaubois and Mardy Collins sank consecutive threes. The lead was soon in the 20s and Oldenburg never came close again. Collins led the Strasbourg attack with 16 points and 7 assists, Beaubois also scored 16, Weems added 14, Matt Howard posted 11 points and 11 rebounds and Louis Campbell scored 10. Strasbourg outrebounded Oldenburg 20-36. Klemen Prepelic paced Oldenburg with 13 points and Vaughn Duggins scored 10 in defeat.

Beaubois opened the scoring for Strasbourg from downtown before Rickey Paulding and Nemanja Aleksandrov connected on back-to-back threes for Oldenburg. Beaubois’s second triple made it 8-10, but Robin Smeulders free throws tied the game. Strasbourg took charge as Howard and Campbell scored 4 points each in a 0-11 run that gave the visitors a double-digit lead. Duggins and Scott Macahado stemmed the bleeding for Oldenburg, but Jeremy Leloup’s free throws and steal, which led to a Weems layup, made it 14-27 after 10 minutes. Paul Lacombe scored and then set up Beaubois for a triple that gave Strasbourg a commanding 16-33 lead two and a half minutes into the second quarter. Prepelic’s three followed by a Brian Qvale layup have Oldenburg hope. Prepelic’s next three was followed by Machado’s first to narrow the deficit to 31-39. Collins scored 7 points over the final two minutes of the second quarter to lift Strasbourg to a 35-48 halftime advantage.

Back to back threes by Aleksandrov and Duggins brought a hopeful Oldenburg within 9 early in the second half, but Weems, Beaubois and Collins then connected from deep to put Strasbourg ahead 41-59. Duggins nailed another three, but Beaubois and Campbell soon had the difference at 19. A three by Weems pushed the difference into the 20s and it stood at 49-73 at the end of the quarter. Free throws by Campbell and Leloup added to the difference as Strasbourg was able to use the entire fourth quarter as a celebration. Dominic Lockhart and Chris Kramer continued pushing the hosts, but the game was long decided. The lead continued to grow and the final 29-point margin matched the largest of the game.