Turk Telekom tops Trento to stay in Top 16 hunt
Turk Telekom Ankara remained alive in the race for the Top 16 by holding on for an 84-77 home victory over Dolomiti Energia Trento on Wednesday. Sylven Landesberg led the way for Turk Telekom with 24 points, while Vladimir Stimac picked up 20 points and 10 rebounds and Kenny Gabriel added 13 points. The win snapped Turk Telekom's two-game losing streak and improved its record to 4-5 in Group C. Trento dropped to 3-6 with the loss and was eliminated from contention for the Top 16. Davide Pascolo and Devyn Marble both scored 18 points for Trento, while Beto Gomes added 16 points, Dustin Hogue collected 11 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists and Aaron Craft chipped in 5 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists and 3 steals in the defeat.
Turk Telekom needed nearly three minutes to score with Trento starting well, especially Gomes, who had 2 three-pointers among his 8 points for a 2-12 lead. Landesberg converted a four-point play and Ender Arslan nailed a three to help Turk Telekom pull within 15-16. Pascolo had a pair of scores at the other end to put Trento ahead 19-22 after 10 minutes. Trento was able to push the lead 23-30, but the hosts charged back with Landesberg and Reggie Redding both making a three-pointer and 2 free throws to give Turk Telekom its first lead 33-32. There were three lead changes and three ties over the final five minutes of the half with Marble and Pascolo both hitting from long range as Trento led 42-45 at the break. Gabriel scored 5 points on an unsportsmanlike foul to start the second half to put Turk Telekom back ahead 47-45. Another Gabriel three-pointer and two straight scores from Stimac made it 58-53. Gomes responded with 6 points to spark a 0-8 run as Trento went up 58-61. But the game was even 61-61 after 30 minutes. Turk Telekom scored the first 6 points of the final quarter only to see Marble tally 4 points in a 3-9 Trento surge to even the game at 70-70. Landesberg nailed a big three-pointer to make it 75-72 and, after Hogue missed 2 free throws, Redding converted 2 foul shots to extend the gap to 79-74 inside the two-minute mark. Gabriel followed with a long three-pointer with 1:08 to play for an 8-point lead and Landesberg added 2 free throws with 55 seconds left to decide the game for good.
Game-changing sequence
Trento was trailing by 3 points with two minutes left when Dustin Hogue missed 2 free throws. Reggie Redding followed with 2 foul shots at the other end and Kenny Gabriel's big three-pointer made it 82-74 with 68 seconds left.
Pivotal performer
Sylven Landesberg scored 24 points with 3 three-pointers and also made 9 of 9 free throws to go with 6 rebounds and 8 fouls drawn.
Telling numbers
Turk Telekom made 19 of 20 free throws (95.0%) and also knocked down 11 of 26 three-pointers (42.3%), while Trento hit 11 of 18 (61.1%) from the foul line and 6 of 27 (22.2%) from long range.
In Round 10
Turk Telekom will head to Serbia next week for a game at Partizan NIS Belgrade knowing it needs a win to reach the Top 16. Having already been eliminated, Trento will play out its EuroCup season at home against Valencia Basket.

Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Eurocupbasketball.com