Banvit Bandirma survives OT scare, clinches Last 32 berth


Banvit Bandirma became the first team to advance to the Last 32 from Group E by edging Partizan NIS Belgrade 90-85 after overtime. Banvit improved to 6-1 record and shares first place in the group with Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius. Partizan dropped to 1-6. Banvit took a double digit margin, 69-58, late in the third quarter, but Partizan rallies early in the last quarter to tie the game at 77-77. Then in a thrilling finish, Djordje Gagic sent the game to the overtime where EJ Rowland scored a crucial layup to get the victory. Vladimir Dragicevic bagged 20 points for the winners, EJ Rowland contributed with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, Sammy Mejia had 17 with 6 assists and Chuck Davis added 14 points. Milenko Tepic chipped in 21 points for the visitors, Luka Bogdanovic nailed 18, Edo Muric 16 while Djordje Gagic amassed a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Tepic gave the first advantage to the visiting team by hitting a triple to make it 7-8. Mejia’s mid-range shot put Banvit ahead, 12-10. The teams exchanged leads until Tepic posted a pair from the foul line to put Partizan in front 24-25 at the end of the first quarter. Tepic’s third three-pointer gave Partizan the a 31-32 lead before a 9-2 run for Banvit capped by 4 points from Davis put the home team up 40-34. Dragicevic increased the margin to 46-38. Bogdanovic and Gagic answered for the visiting team before Tolga Gecim split free throws to fix the score at 49-42 at halftime for the hosts.

Vladimir Veremeenko from the foul line made it 51-42 at the start of the second half; Partizan pushed by back-to-back three-pointers by Mihajlo Andric, went on a 4-12 run to get within a point, 55-54. The hosts answered and soared to a double-digit margin through Davis at 69-58, before 7 unanswered points from the visitors made it 69-65 through three quarters. Bogdanovic hit from downtown to tie the score at 77 with six minutes left in the game. Nikola Milutinov put Partizan in front 79-81 with mid-range shot. Veremenko gave an 83-81 advantage to the home team. Gagic tied the game at 83-83, before Keith Simmons and Tepic missed potential game winners. The lead changed hands three times early in the extra session. Then EJ Rowland posted a layup for an 88-85 margin with 41 seconds left. Gagic lost a ball and Meija scored free throws to win it.