Metropolitans rally late to beat Brescia

Boulogne Metropolitans 92 raced back from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter to knock off Germani Brescia 70-75 for its third straight win in Group B. Metropolitans used a 0-15 run to go ahead 68-74 in the closing minute to improve to 3-2. Rob Gray scored 10 of his 16 points in the final 3 minutes while Anthony Brown had 14 points, Vitalis Chikoko 13 points and Brandon Brown 10 in the win. Brescia could not hold an 11-point margin over the final 7 minutes - and a 10-point advantage with 5 minutes left - and lost its third straight in falling to 1-4. Dusan Ristic scored 14 points, Drew Crawford had 13, Luka Vitali chipped in 11 and Kenny Chery totaled 10 points and 10 assists in the loss.

Brandon Brown started the scoring with a three-pointer and Tomer Ginat made it 0-5 before Ristic finally got Brescia on the board. Two Chery baskets helped the hosts move ahead 10-7 only to see Anthony Brown and Lahaou Konate hit triples and put the visitors up 14-15. Brescia responded with the next 6 points with Metropolitans answering with a 0-10 surge to go up 20-25 and lead 23-25 after 10 minutes. Gray’s layup ended a 1-5 start to the second quarter. Crawford followed with a three-pointer at the other end to start a 9-2 surge as Brescia went up 33-32. Neither team could pull away though Gray hit another layup at the buzzer for a 37-39 Metropolitans lead at intermission.

Chikoko started the second half strong with 4 points in a 0-6 run and the visitors led 39-45. Ristic got Brescia going again with 6 straight points and David Moss's three-point play made it 48-45. David Michineau had an and-one of his own for the guests, but T.J. Cline scored 5 points and the hosts led 57-50 after 30 minutes. The run continued into the fourth quarter with Crawford finishing a break that boosted the margin to double figures for the first time, 63-52. Anthony Brown was not ready to leave Italy with a loss as he drained a three-pointer and added a basket to get Metropolitans within 68-67. That is when Gray took over, scoring a layup, three-pointer and layup to push the visitors ahead 68-74 with 28 seconds left. And he added a free throw with 13 seconds remaining.

Chikoko in form

Vitalis Chikoko has been playing outstandingly the past two rounds, picking up 13 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists against Brescia after collecting 14 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks in Round 4.

Gray Microwave

Rob Gray might find some Metropolitans fans calling him "The Microwave" soon because he has shown he can heat up quickly and score in bunches. In 22 minutes off the bench in Round 4, Gray torched Mornar Bar for 16 points. He produced the same number of points in just 19 minutes against Germani Brescia in Round 5.

Telling numbers

Brescia only scored 14 points in the second quarter and 13 in the fourth as it could not solve the Metropolitans defense. The hosts made only 2 of 17 three-pointers for a nightmarish 11.8%.

Next games

After three road games in the first four contests, Brescia will stay at home for Round 6 when it welcomes Buducnost VOLI Podgorica on Tuesday, November 3. Metropolitans will have a home game for Round 6 as well with Unicaja Malaga coming to town the same day.