Andorra beats Mornar, but gets eliminated

MoraBanc Andorra did its part to stay in the race for the EuroCup Quarterfinals by knocking off Mornar Bar 89-61 at home, but its campaign ended when Herbalife Gran Canaria prevailed over UNICS Kazan later Wednesday. Jeremy Senglin led the way with 16 points and 6 rebounds for Andorra, which finished Group H with a 3-3 record in third place. Tomasz Gielo pitched in 14 points, Haukur Palsson scored 13 and David Jelinek 10 points in the victory. Mornar got 13 points from Nemanja Vranjes and Taylor Smith scored 11 points. The Montenegro team ended its first-ever Top 16 showing with a 1-5 record.

Uros Lukovic’s inside basket started the scoring in the game and Gielo’s three-pointer tied the score for the first time at 3-3. Palsson put the hosts up 5-3. Palsson and Gielo added triples for a 15-8 lead. Andorra then held Mornar scoreless for the final 3 minutes and Jelinek had a three-pointer and layup in an 8-0 run to lead 23-10 after 10 minutes. Smith opened the second quarter with the first 3 points. Nemanja Gordic followed for Mornar with a three-point play and Marko Jeremic’s triple made it 25-19. Andorra punched back with a 10-2 run including three-pointers from Clevin Hannah and Palsson to move ahead 35-21. Mornar was able to get back to within 11 points a couple of times but the margin was 44-29 at the break.

Jeremic and Derek Needham drained triples to start the second half and get the deficit back to 11 points, 46-35. Gielo responded from deep and Art Parakhouski was too strong inside and pushed the margin to 53-37. Smith scored three baskets to try to keep Mornar close, but Palsson and Jelinek both hit three-pointers and Sergi Garcia knocked down 2 triples as the advantage grew to 71-48. It was 71-51 after 30 minutes. Mornar tallied the first 5 points of the final frame to make it 71-56. Andorra responded with an 11-0 run over the next 5 minutes thanks to 5 points from Senglin and another Gielo triple to end any doubts, 82-56. Mornar would not get closer than 24 points in the final 4 minutes.

More rebounding domination for Andorra

Andorra dominated the boards to the tune of 53 to 23, including 16 offensive rebounds. It was the second time Mornar had no answer on the glass against Andorra, which took the rebounding battle 48-25 in Round 2 of the Top 16.

Parakhouski thrives again versus Mornar

Art Parakhouski tallied 9 points to go with 8 rebounds as the Belarussian big man once again dominated against Mornar Bar. In the four Top 16 games against UNICS Kazan and Herbalife Gran Canaria, Parakhouski totaled 6 points and 7 rebounds. In the Round 2 game in Montenegro, he collected 12 points and 7 rebounds.

Short-handed Mornar

Mornar came into the game very short-handed, missing Jacob Pullen, Isaiah Whitehead and Johnny Hamilton. That trio had averaged 42.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.9 steals and 2.9 blocks.

Telling numbers

Mornar committed only 4 turnovers but it connected on only 37.5% of its two-pointers and allowed Andorra to hit 14 three-pointers.