Alba Berlin got back to its winning ways with some stiff defense, downing previously unbeaten BCM Gravelines Dunkerque 70-59. Both teams now hold 3-1 record in a share of the top spot in Group D. Berliners took the lead with a 12-2 run in the first quarter, and never relinquished, in part thanks to allowing only 6 points in the third quarter. The hosts pulled away to a double-digit lead at the start of the fourth quarter, and used more defense on their way to victory. David Logan paced the winners with 17 points, Cliff Hammonds scored 9, while Levon Kendall had 8 points plus 8 rebounds. John Holland netted 16 for the visitors, and Marcus Lewis collected 14 points plus 9 rebounds. D.J. Kennedy chipped in with 12 in defeat.
The visitors had their way at the start of the game, with Cyril Akpomedah and D.J. Kennedy hitting triples for 2-10. Logan got Alba going, and Reggie Redding added a three-pointer, but Holland hit from downtown for the visitors, and Lewis got them to 13-20. However, Vojdan Stojanovski and Akeem Vargas hit a triple apiece, as the hosts made a 12-2 run to take the lead. Teams went basket-for-basket, as Alba used triples from Alex King and Logan for 35-29, but Holland kept the visitors in range. It was 42-38 at halftime, and baskets were few and far apart in the third quarter as defenses dominated on both ends of the floor. Moreover, Alba did not allow a field goal for almost 10 minutes, and with Kendall, Vargas, and Hammonds scoring at the start of the fourth, the hosts extended the margin to 56-44. Gravelines countered through Ousmane Camara and a triple from Jonathan Rousselle, snapping its drought, but Hammonds answered with a triple and a layup as Berliners closed out the game.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Eurocupbasketball.com