2007-08Regular SeasonRound 2
November 01, 2007 CET: 20:45
Local time: 20:45 TIVOLI ARENA

Union Olimpija downing mighty Olympiacos 87-78

Union Olimpija bounced back from its initial loss in the 2007-08 Euroleague by downing mighty Olympiacos 87-78 in Ljubljana, Slovenia on Thursday night. Both teams are now tied at 1-1 in Group B. Ronnel Taylor and Marko Milic each had 16 points for Olimpija, that went against all odds, pushed by thousands of fans at Hala Tivoli in the Slovenian capital. Miha Zupan added 14, Goran Dragic had 12 and Jasmin Hukic 10 for Olimpija. Marc Jackson had 20 points for Olympiacos, Arvydas Macijauskas and Lynn Greer each added 15 while Giorgios Printezis got 13 for the Reds, that led 14-21 after 10 minutes. Olimpija found a go-to guy in Zupan, who allowed the hosts to get a 57-54 halftime edge. Olimpija used aggressive defense to dominate the game in the second half, as Hukic and an outstanding Taylor boosted the hosts' lead to double digits, 75-65. Dragic and Milic helped Olimpija to seal a well-deserved win in style.

Printezis and Qyntel Woods got Olympiacos going with consecutive baskets in the opening minute, as Olimpija struggled to score until Milic stepped up for the hosts. Milic soon fed Mirza Begic for a dunk, but a power basket by Printezis and a very active Macijauskas kept Olympiacos ahead, 6-8. Milic kept pacing Olimpija but he didn't find much help around. Meanwhile, Greer ignited a 0-6 run that Jackson capped with an easy basket, good for a 8-14 Olympiacos lead midway through the first quarter. Olimpija briefly regained its momentum, as Taylor hit free throws and Hasan Rizvic found his first basket. It didn't last long, however, as Jackson buried a three-pointer while Macijauskas beat the buzzer to give the Reds a 14-21 edge after 10 minutes.

Olimpija improved its aggressivity early in the second quarter, not allowing any easy shots now. Meanwhile, Milic scored and soon collected a steal that allowed Dragic to get Olimpija within 18-21. Taylor scored off a steal but Kostas Vasileadis and Greer stroke from downtown to keep Olympiacos ahead, 20-27. It didn't last long, however, as Olimpija used outstanding defense to regain its momentum. Taylor and Dragic took over with consecutive baskets but Giannis Bouroussis stepped up with a put-back layup for a five-point Olympiacos lead at 24-29. Zupan followed a layup with a fast break basket and by the time he scored again, Olimpija was ahead, 30-29. Jackson found answers for the Reds but Zupan answered from downtown and Taylor added free throws. Macijauskas took over with a corner triple but a put-back layup by Booker gave Olimpija a 37-34 halftime edge.

Roderick Blakney opener the second half with a triple and Printezis added a layup for a 39-39 tie. It didn't last long, as Zupan and Taylor fueled a 6-0 run that gave the hosts a 45-39 lead. Olimpija kept powering the offensive board but started to miss open shots. Meanwhile, free throws by Jackson and a triple by Blakney got the Reds within 47-45. Taylor stepped up with a layup-plus-foul, as Olympiacos kept committing turnovers right when it mattered. Greer and Macijauskas came off the bench, while Dragic picked up his fourth foul. Olympiacos called a much-needed timeout to adjust its offense and Greer immediately delivered with a basket and free throws, but Taylor and Mocnik answered from downtown for a 56-49 Olimpija edge. More free throws by Greer fixed the score at 56-53 after 30 minutes.

Zupan kept pacing Olimpija with a put-back basket that Jackson erased with free throws. Hukic answered the same way while Dragic fed Taylor for an easy basket, good for a 62-55 Olimpija lead with 8 minutes to go. Booker buried a fadeaway jumper but Jackson silenced the crowd with his second triple. A fast break layup by Dragic and an easy basket by Hukic were good for a 68-59 Olimpija lead midway through the final period. Macijausjas and Jackson hit more foul shots but Olimpija stayed focused. Hukic scored inside and Milic added another layup. Greer tried to change things with a put-back layup but free throws by Booker and Hukic gave Olimpija a double-digit lead, 75-65. Macijauskas made more foul shots but he did not find help down the stretch. Meanwhile, Dragic and Milic allowed all Olimpija fans to celebrate that their team is more than ready to fight for a Top 16 spot.

Thursday, November 1, 2007
Euroleague.net
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Referees: MITJANA, JUAN CARLOS; JASEVICIUS, TOMAS; CHIARI, ROBERTO
Attendance: 5500
By Quarter1234
Union Olimpija14231931
Olympiacos21131925
End of Quarter1234
Union Olimpija14375687
Olympiacos21345378
Union Olimpija
  Rebounds Blocks Fouls
# Player Min Pts 2FG 3FG FT O D T As St To Fv Ag Cm Rv PIR
4 DONCIC, SASA 10:53     0/3 0/2   2 2 4   1       2 2
6 BOOKER, CHRIS 8:23 5 2/3   1/2 2   2 1 1 1     1 1 6
7 MOCNIK, JAN 12:52 8 1/1 2/5         1 1 4     2   1
8 MULALIC, MIRKO DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
9 DRAGIC, GORAN 28:55 12 4/6 0/4 4/4   1 1 3 1 1     5 4 9
11 RIZVIC, HASAN 14:03 2 1/1     1 1 2   1       2 1 4
12 MILIC, MARKO 25:07 16 7/11   2/2 2 2 4 2 1       5 3 17
13 HUKIC, JASMIN 26:18 10 3/3 0/6 4/4 4 1 5     2     4 1 4
15 BEGIC, MIRZA 8:51 4 2/2       2 2           2   4
23 ANDERSON, LUKE 3:01     0/2                   1   -3
24 ZUPAN, MIHA 21:37 14 5/5 1/2 1/1 2 2 4           3 3 17
30 TAYLOR, RONELL 40:00 16 4/8 1/4 5/5 1 3 4 3 5 2 1   2 6 24
Team                     1         -1
Totals 200:00 87 29/40 4/26 17/20 12 14 26 14 10 12 1 0 27 21 84
        72.5% 15.4% 85%
Head coach: BECIROVIC, MEHMED
Min: Minutes played; Pts: Points; 2FG M-A: 2-point Field Goals (Made-Attempted); 3FG M-A: 3-point Field Goals (Made-Attempted); FT M-A: Free Throws (Made-Attempted); Rebounds: O (Offensive), D (Defensive), T (Total); As: Assists; St: Steals; To: Turnovers; Bl: Blocks (Fv: In Favor / Ag: Against); Fouls: Cm (Commited), Rv (Received); PIR: Performance Index Rating
Olympiacos
  Rebounds Blocks Fouls
# Player Min Pts 2FG 3FG FT O D T As St To Fv Ag Cm Rv PIR
4 BLAKNEY, RODERICK 21:26 6   2/3             1     4 1 1
5 PAPAMAKARIOS, MANOLIS 1:31     0/1             1     1   -3
6 WOODS, QYNTEL 19:34 4 1/2 0/1 2/2 1 3 4   1 1     2 3 7
7 MACIJAUSKAS, ARVYDAS 27:23 15 3/3 1/1 6/8         1 2     1 5 16
9 BOUROUSIS, IOANNIS 9:22 2 1/1     1 2 3     4     2 1  
10 TSAKALIDIS, JAKE 7:18       0/2           1       2 -1
11 GREER, LYNN 31:41 15 3/10 1/3 6/6 1   1 2 1 1   1 3 7 12
14 VASILEIADIS, KOSTAS 13:24 3   1/2     2 2 1   2     1   2
16 PRINTEZIS, GEORGIOS 34:43 13 6/7 0/2 1/3 1 1 2 1   1     4 2 8
17 KAFKIS, PANAGIOTIS 1:33                         1   -1
18 TEODOSIC, MILOS 5:30           2 2 1   3          
25 JACKSON, MARC 26:35 20 4/6 2/2 6/8 2 3 5 1   4     3 6 21
Team                                
Totals 200:00 78 18/29 7/15 21/29 6 13 19 6 3 21 0 1 22 27 62
        62.1% 46.7% 72.4%
Head coach: GERSHON, PINI

Head Coaches

BECIROVIC, MEHMED
Union Olimpija
"My team has shown that it has quality and a big heart. With the game we have played against Olympiacos and, above all, with this great crowd that has backed us during all 40 minutes, we can beat any team. In the first half, we were a little nervous due to the importance of the game and we did not shoot well, but with great defense we overcame that stretch."
GERSHON, PINI
Olympiacos
"Union Olimpija deserved to win. We have played as badly as Union Olimpija played well. They made us play bad with their game. They were very good on two-point shots and we were unable to do anything. I think that none of my players had their heads in this game but rather in the big derby against Panathinaikos this weekend."

Players

DRAGIC, GORAN
Union Olimpija
"We left our hearts on the court and we have shown how we have to battle for the club. During the entire game, we have played aggressively and hard. Our victory has been deserved. With these fans, we can beat all the teams in the Euroleague."
TEODOSIC, MILOS
Olympiacos
"We have not played the way we wanted to play. Union Olimpija has been better. They played aggressive the whole game."
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