Donald Copeland poured in 25 points and dished out 7 assists as PGE Turow thrashed Brose Baskets Bamberg 39-69 for a record-setting road win in their Group F opener. Turow improved on its own defensive record for fewest points allowed in the history of the competition, eclipsing the 42 points Strasbourg scored against the club exactly one year ago this week. Turow smashed the previous mark for best defensive performance on the road, which previously was 48, set by Makedonikos in December 2004. Turow dealt handily with three starters having two fouls in the first quarter as Darian Townes came off the bench to score 10 points, grab 7 rebounds and block 5 shots for Turow. No other player scored in double figures for the visitors, who made 9-of-21 three-pointers and out-rebounded Bamberg 32-20. Bamberg scored just 5 points in the second quarter and 7 in the third as little went right for the home team. Eric Taylor was the only Bamberg player to score in double figures with 10 points. Alexander Johnson added 8 points and 4 steals.

Johnson opened the scoring for the hosts with a three-point play but Chris Daniels hit two baskets and Damir Miljkovic made it 3-8. Turow was really playing tough defense and did not let Bamberg score again until Taylor’s foul shot with three minutes left in the first quarter to make it 4-8. Tim Ohlbrecht and Jared Newson each hit to knot the game at 8-8. And Taylor connected again from inside and twice from the foul line to make it 12-10 for the hosts. But Copeland’s two free throws evened the game at 12-12 after one period. Townes made two inside baskets and Copeland nailed two triples and was followed by a Robert Witka three-pointer for a 0-13 start to the quarter. Taylor finally scored for Bamberg with a foul shot but Miljkovic hit a jumper and then Witka and Gorjan Radonjic each knocked down triples as the lead grew to 15-33. Johnson’s dunk stopped the run but Copeland hit the final four points of the period as Turow led 17-37 at half-time, having given up just five points in the second quarter.

Krzysztof Roszyk started the second half with a three-pointer and Bamberg started to find a bit of a rhythm with Filiberto Rivera hitting a layup and four fouls shots trimming the deficit to 23-40 with three minutes left in the third. But Townes, who had been playing great defense the whole game, hit two more layups and Copeland connected again from downtown and the lead after Miljkovic’s jumper was 24-49 going into the fourth. Taylor tried to bring his team back with two straight baskets but Copeland also scored four points and then Radonjic nailed a three-pointer and the lead was back to 28-56. Michael Jordan was called for an unsportsmanlike foul and Copeland made both free throws and then a layup as the lead grew to 30 points – 30-60 with five minutes left. Rivera and Robert Garrett hit baskets but the combination of Copeland and Townes was much too much.