Bursaspor sets records in comeback win

Frutti Extra Bursaspor shook off an early 17-point deficit to dominate the second half en route to a 102-92 victory over Nanterre 92 on Wednesday at Tofas Spor Salonu. The Round 10 game was the teams' second meeting in as many night after Bursaspor claimed its first victory of the season in a Round 5 makeup game the night before. This time Bursaspor set club records in a number of categories, including points scored, three-pointers made and PIR, in improving to 2-7 on the season. Xavier Munford led the charge with 24 points on 5-of-6 three-point shooting, Oguz Savas made 9 of 10 shots for 20 points, Maxim Mutaf scored 19 with 4 three-pointers, Lamar Peters tallied 14 points and 7 assists and Malik Newman had 9 points and 8 assists. Johnny Berhanemeskel paced Nanterre with 20 points on 5-of-6 shooting from downtown plus 7 assists, Chris Warren scored 17, Tyler Stone 16, Ivan Fevrier 13 and Damien Bouquet and Brian Conklin scored 10 each.

Nanterre was red-hot at the start with Warren opening the scoring with a three-pointer and Berhanemeskel connecting twice from downtown in a 2-12 run to open the game. The Bursaspor attack got going through Munford, but Nanterre continued to add to its advantage, which reached 17 on an Alpha Kaba put-back. Newman's basket ended the opening quarter at 20-35. Newman dished 3 assists and Oguz Savas scored twice in a 10-2 run to bring the hosts within 30-37. A layup by Newman trimmed the gap to 4 before Nanterre regrouped through Berhanemeskel and Stone for a 35-48 cushion. Savas kept Bursaspor in the game, though a three by Warren made it 45-54 at the break.

Peters and Mutaf quickly chiseled the deficit down to 5, but Bouquet and the visitors would not let Bursaspor any closer. Savas made it 59-65 midway through the third quarter before back-to-back threes by Perry Jones got his team to 69-70. Kadji then tied it at 72-72 with a triple, which was how the third quarter finished. Newman turned in a fantastic layup to give Bursaspor its first lead of the game, 75-72, and Munford extended it with a four-point play. Back-to-back threes by Fevrier restored a Nanterre edge, 79-80. It was the first of four consecutive possessions in which the lead changed hands. Bursaspor made its move with threes by Munford, Peters and Mutaf in an 11-1 run to take a commanding 92-83 lead with 4 minutes remaining. Munford put back his own miss to give the hosts their first double-digit lead, 97-86, and Mutaf added a three to take Bursaspor to the 100-point mark as it rolled to a record-setting victory.

Game-deciding run

Nanterre led throughput the first three quarters, but when Malik Newman gave Bursaspor its first lead with the first basket of the fourth quarter, a thrilling finish looked to be in the cards. Soon the lead changed hands on five straight possessions, but the last of those buckets by Lamar Peters trigged an 11-1 run in which Xavier Munford, Peters and Maxim Mutaf all sank threes for a 92-83 advantage with 4 minutes remaining and the visitors never recovered.

Bursaspor's new records

This game will stand out in the Frutti Extra Bursaspor records page as the team set club records with 102 points scored, 16 three-pointers made and a PIR of 119. Xavier Munford also shot into the club's record books with 5 three-pointers. He tied the Bursaspor record, but did so with the fewest missed shots of the four to have made as many triples.

Telling numbers

The game was by no means a defensive slugfest, but Bursaspor's dominance on the glass made quite a difference. The hosts outrebounded Nanterre 36-21 and allowed only 2 offensive rebounds all night. Bursaspor had 10 offensive boards and scored 9 second-chance points. Nanteree had just 2 second-chance points.

What's next?

Bursaspor will complete its first season in the EuroCup next week when it faces Promitheas Patras on Tuesday, December 29. Nanterre will play next in mid-January when Top 16 play begins. It will be in Group E with Unicaja Malaga, AS Monaco and a yet-to-be-determined team.