Strasbourg stuns the champs!

Strasbourg made a statement win by upsetting reigning champion Real Madrid 93-86 at home on Friday night. It is second win in as many home games for Strasbourg, while Madrid is still searching for a road win. The result gives both teams 2-3 records and part of a four-team share of the third place in Group A. Strasbourg jumped to a big early lead, but Madrid rallied with a 0-16 first-quarter run. But the hosts continued with a great offensive display in the second, and took a 51-44 halftime lead. The 51 points Strasbourg scored in the first half is the most points for the club in the Euroleague in a half, surpassing its previous record of 50. After a fine first half, Strasbourg never trailed in the second. A 13-0 run early in the third quarter opened up 64-46 lead, and the margin reached 83-63 early in the fourth. Madrid rallied after that, but Strasbourg avoided any drama for a win in which Louis Campbell paced the team with 23 points on 4-of-5 three-point shooting. Roderigue Beubois scored 16 with 6 assists, Mardy Collins had 14, while Kyle Weems netted 12 for Strasbourg. On the visiting side, Jeffrey Taylor scored 21 points, Sergio Llull had 20 points and 6 assists, while Rudy Fernandez had 17 points in defeat.

First quarter: The hosts start quick, Madrid answers with 0-16 run

Kyle Weems hit a triple on the opening possession. Bangaly Fofana added a put-back for the hosts, and Beubois drove for a dunk in the lane and a quick 7-0 lead. Jaycee Carroll answered with a three-pointer to open Madrid's account, but Beaubois answered with one of his own from downtown, and Vladimir Golubovic made a hook shot to give the hosts a 12-4 lead. Fernandez drove to the hoop for the visitors, but Beaubois had a three-point play that extended the margin to 15-6 after 3 minutes of play. There was more to come from Strasbourg, as Collins raced for a fastbreak layup. After free throws by Llull, a triple from Weems and a short baseline shot from Golubovic extended the difference to 22-9. Taylor scored inside for the visitors, snapping a 10-1 run, then Llull nailed a long jumper. Now, Madrid was on a run. After free throws from Fernandez, Lull added a triple, and Fernandez raced on a fastbreak dunk, cutting it to 22-20. After a Strasbourg timeout, Fernandez added a triple, then finished another fast break with a dunk for 22-25. It took Madrid only three minutes to make a 0-16 run, which Beaubois snapped with a layup to make it 24-25 after 10 minutes.

Second quarter: Strasbourg takes halftime lead behind Campbell’s triples

Nocioni had a put-back and Beaubois answered with a long jumper to start the quarter. Romeo Travis hit a jumper, 28-27, before Sergio Rodriguez made a fadeaway shot. Travis scored inside, but Taylor’s big dunk put Madrid back on top, 30-31. However, Strasbourg had all the answers. Travis scored again inside, and after Rodriguez fed Willy with a behind-the-back pass for a three-point play, Campbell nailed a corner triple, 35-34. Collins had a fastbreak basket to extend Strasbourg's margin, and Campbell hit his second triple, making it 40-35. After another big dunk from Taylor, Campbell nailed his third shot from downtown. Taylor drove to make a tough runner, but Romain Duport nailed a jumper, before a tip-in from Golubovic and a jumper from Paul Lacombe jumper opened 49-41 margin. After a Madrid timeout, Llull nailed a triple, but Collins made another basket from close range that gave the hosts 51-44 halftime lead.

Third quarter: The hosts pull away

Free throws by Llull opened the second half, but it was all Strasbourg after that. Collins and Leloup found ways to score inside, before Weems nailed a triple, 58-46. The run continued with a Leloup facilitating a fastbreak that Beaubois finished, then Leloup dished a pass to Campbell for an easy layup that made it 62-46. After a timeout, a jumper from Beaubois made it an 18-point affair, before Reyes free throws snapped a 13-0 run. Reyes added a put-back, but a driving layup from Campbell helped the hosts open 71-52 margin. Fernandez made free throws and drove to the hoop for a basket, but Campbell nailed a long two. Taylor scored on a fastbreak to cut it to 73-58, and after Leloup made a cut in the lane for a layup, Rodriguez first banked in a runner then hit a runner on a fast break that got Madrid within 76-63. However, Beaubois made a runner to finish the quarter, giving Strasbourg 78-63 advantage.

Fourth quarter: Madrid rallies, but Strasbourg easily holds on

Duport made an easy layup to open the quarter, followed by a triple from Campbell that broke the 20-point barrier, 83-63. Rudy free throws were the only baskets in the next three minutes, as the scoring slowed down. Campbell’s basket restored an 18-point lead. After a Pablo Laso timeout, Taylor nailed a triple, but Weems scored an easy basket on the other end. Llull banked in a runner, and Taylor made a tough baseline jumper. Reyes drew an unsportsmanlike foul, and Taylor made a back-door cut for reverse dunk that made it 87-78 with 2:05 to go. After a timeout, however, Collins made a reverse layup that extended the margin back to 11 points. Reyes scored foul shots, and Llull hit a triple to get Madrid within 89-83 with 48 second left. But Campbell fed Collins for an easy layup on the ensuing possession, sealing the deal.