Virtus Rome beats Nymburk to clinch first in Group C

Virtus Rome clinched first place in Group C by beating CEZ Nymburk 78-72. Rome improved to 7-2, whil dropping Nymburk to 4-5. The Czech champs retain a chance to reach the Last 32 next week. Rome dominated early and led by 10 in the first quarter before a 0-12 Nymburk run got the visitors back in it. The hosts established a 42-35 lead at halftime and went up 48-37 in the third. Nymburk rallied back through Tre Simmons and Petr Benda. The visitors led 71-72 late, but free throws by Kyle Gibson and Bobby Jones pushed the hosts back ahead and Simmons missed a critical three late. Jones finished with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners, while Gibson and Rok Stipcevic added 12 points each, Brandon Triched scored 11 and Jordan Morgan 10. Simmons led Nymburk with 20 points, Pavel Houska scored 17 and Derek Raivio 10.

Melvin Ejim on the offensive glass and Jones on the break helped the hosts to a 10-4 start. Jones and Ejim boosted the difference to 10. Pavel Houska came to Nymburk’s rescue with a three-point play and a three-pointer in the final minute of the quarter to make it 18-14 after 10 minutes. Simmons scored the first two baskets of the second quarter to tie it before Tomas Pomikalek capped a 0-12 run to give Nymburk an 18-20 lead. Rome tied it and after Derek Raivio and Jones traded triples, it was 23-23. Rome regained the lead on Lorenzo D’ercole’s three-pointer and Jones’s steal and layup. Jordan Morgan’s layup put the hosts up 34-27. Threes by Christian Burns and Houska brought Nymburk within 38-35, but Morgan and Brandon Triche had the hosts back in control at 42-35 at halftime.

Back-to-back threes by Kyle Gibson and Jones had Rome soaring at 48-37. Houska and Simmons tried to revive the visitors, but the Rome attack continued to find scorers. A layup by Simmons and Vojtech Hruban triple brought Nymburk within 53-49. Despite a triple from Rok Stipcevic, Raivio free throws kept Nymburk in it at 56-53 through three quarters. Simmons tied the game with a three-pointer early in the fourth quarter. His next three put the visitors on top and Petr Benda free throws made it 58-61. Lubos Barton knocked down a three to silence the stunned Rome fans at 58-64. Riche revived the hosts with a slam, Jones soon tied the game and Gibson capped a 9-0 run with a triple. Raivio answered from downtown to tie the game at 67-67 with three minutes to play. Aftr Stipcevic put Roma ahead, Benda’s layup made it 71-72. Free throws by Gibson and Jones pushed the hosts back ahead and Simmons missed a critical three. Gibson added 2 more from the line to make it a two-possession game as Rome held on for the win.