Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir punches eighthfinals ticket

Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir remained unbeaten in the Last 32 and clinched a berth in the Eurocup Eighthfinals with an 86-79 victory over Paris Levallois. Bobby Dixon came within 1 rebound of a triple-double and D.J. Strawberry added 19 points for Karsiyaka, which improved to 4-0 in Group M and can clinch first place – and with it home-court advantage in the next stage – with a win in either of its remaining games. Paris dropped to 1-3 in the group. Paris led by 2 entering the fourth quarter, but Strawberry’s go-ahead three sparked an 8-0 Karsiyaka run and the hosts never relinquished the lead again/ Dixon finished with 16 points, 9 rebounds, 11 assists and 3 steals. Jon Diebler added 17 points, Juan Palacios scored 13 and Kenny Gabriel posted 10 points and 9 boards for the winners. Sharrod Ford led Paris with 22 points and 10 rebounds and Blake Schilb and Maleye Ndoye scored 17 apiece in defeat.

Palacios scored the first two baskets for the hosts and after Mike Green put Paris on the scoreboard, a Strawberry three-pointer made it 7-2. Schilb carried the visitors to within 1 twice and made it 13-12 midway through the opening quarter. After Palacios extended the difference to 6, Schilb and Ndoye carried Paris within 18-17. Schilb’s three-point play and three-pointer gave him 12 first-quarter points and Paris a 23-25 edge. Ford gave Paris a 5-point cushion before Soner Senturk’s basket made it 25-28 after 10 minutes. Xavier Corosine opened the second quarter with a three, but Karsiyaka used a 7-0 spurt in the middle of the period to move back in front, 35-33. Dionte Christmas hit from downtown for Paris, but the momentum remained with the hosts, who got a three from Dixon and a pair of baskets from Erkan Veyseloglu to take a 44-36 lead. Corosine kept Paris in the game at 49-43 at halftime.

Ndoye opened the second half with a three and after baskets from Diebler and Strawberry, Schilb connected from downtown too. Diebler’s third three of the game made it 60-49, but back-to-back triples from Ndoye and Corosine rallied Paris to within 3. Ford tied the game with a basket on an assist from Schilb, whose free throws put the visitors up 61-63. Despite Dixon’s three at the other end, Ford ensured a Paris lead, 65-67, through three quarters. Karsiyaka regained control by scoring the first 8 points of the fourth quarter – half of which came from Strawberry’s hands. Ndoye connected on his fifth three of the night, but Gabriel countered for Karsiyaka. Ford gave the visitors hope at 78-74 with four minutes remaining, however Palacios and Diebler kept the hosts comfortable in front en route to the important victory.