Bonn edges CAI in outstanding thriller


In an exciting battle that went down to the final second, Telekom Baskets Bonn edged CAI Zaragoza 90-88 on a game-winning three-point play by Angelo Caloiaro with 0.9 seconds remaining. Both teams are now tied in Group A, each with a 1-2 record. Dirk Madrich led the winners with 20 points. Caloiaro added 16, Ryan Brooks had 15, Benas Vaikalas and Mickey McConnell each got 12, Tadas Klimavicius contributed 10 while Eugene Lawrence dished 10 assists for Bonn. Chris Goulding and Stefan Jelovac led CAI with 19 points apiece. Rasko Katic added 10 for the guests, which trailed 49-43 at halftime. Goulding and Katic led CAI's comeback and a three-pointer by Marcus Landry tied the game, 65-65, after 30 minutes. The game saw as many as 8 lead changes in the fourth quarter. Landry hit a three-pointer for an 83-86 CAI lead but 4 unanswered points by McConnell put Bonn back ahead, 87-86, with 4 seconds left. Jelovac made free throws but a three-point play by Caloiaro allowed Bonn to claim its first win in Group A.

CAI had a strong start and a layup by Pedro Llompart gave the guests a 5-7 edge. Madrich struck from downtown and Caloiaro added a layup but Joan Sastre and Jelovac made CAI regain the lead, 12-13. Five unanswered points by Madrich ignited an 11-2 run which Brooks capped with a jumper to make the guests call timeout at 23-15. Klimavicius and Brooks allowed Bonn to extend its margin to 26-18 after 10 minutes. Goulding tried to change things for CAI early in the second quarter but Brooks and Veikalas gave Bonn some fresh air at 33-26. Jason Robinson and Henk Norel stepped up with back-to-back baskets to make it a four-point game, 36-32. A three-pointer by Goulding brought CAI even closer, 38-35, but Andrej Mangold and veikalas answered from downtown to boost Bonn's lead to 49-43 at halftime. Veikalas and Sastre traded three-pointers right after the break and consecutive layups by Norel brought the guests within 51-50. Klimavicius and McConell stepped up for Bonn but Landry and an outstanding Katic kept CAI as close as 60-58. Veikalas insisted from downtown and Brooks scored again but a three-pointer by Landry tied it at 65-65 after 30 minutes. Jelovac followed a triple with a layup to complete CAI's comeback, 68-70, with 8 minutes left. Madrich followed a close basket with a three-pointer and Brooke hit a jumper but Goulding kept CAI within 76-75. Another jumper by Goulding and a triple by Jelovac gave CAI a 78-80 edge in the next-to-last minute. McConnell and Goulding exchanged triples, Caloiaro scored again and Landry gave CAI am 83-86 edge. Caloiaro followed a layup with free throws for an 87-86 Bonn lead with 4 seconds left. Jelovac drew a foul and calmly made free throws, Bonn called timeout and Caloiaro took over with a layup-plus-foul to win it for the hosts!