Bayern goes past Bamberg, stays undefeated

In an all-German showdown, FC Bayern Munich stayed undefeated in the 2014-15 Eurocup and finished Last 32 Group K with a 6-0 record by downing Brose Baskets Bamberg 87-63 at home on Wednesday. Bayern was first in this group and will have the home court advantage in its two-way eighthfinals series against Eurocup reigning champion Valencia Basket. Moreover, Bayern has the best Last 32 record in the entire competition (6-0, + 97), which gives it the home court advantage in all elimination rounds it plays from now on. Bamberg was second with a 3-3 record and faces 2013 champion Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar in the next round. Dusko Savanovic and John Bryant led the winners with 15 points apiece. Vladimir Stimac added 12 while Bryce Taylor and Vasilije Micic each had 10 for Bayern. Daniel Theis led Bamberg with 19 points while Ryan Thompson added 11. Bayern led 23-17 after 10 minutes behind an outstanding Savanovic and used a 10-0 run to boost its margin to 38-19 soon after that. Nothing changed from that moment, as Bayern led 43-26 at halftime, extended it to 63-45 after 30 minutes and cruised to a well-deserved win.

A layup by Dawan Robinson gave Bamberg an early 2-4 lead. Bayern found a go-to guy in Savanovic, who stepped up with a couple of baskets and struck twice from downtown to make the hosts get a 14-8 lead. Bamberg called timeout and Bradley Wanamaker hit a jumper which Thompson followed with a triple for a 16-13 score. Savanovic got help from Stimac and Heiko Schaffartzik to give Bayern a 23-17 margin after 10 minutes. Robin Benzing nailed a jumper and Schaffartzik added a triple that make it a double-digit game, 28-17. Theis hit a jumper but Bryant led a 10-0 run which broke the game open, 38-19. Theis tried to change things with another jumper and a layup but he didn't find much help around. Meanwhile, Stimac and Taylor made Bayern keep a 43-26 margin at halftime. A jumper by Robinson and a layup by Wanamaker gave Bamberg some hope, 43-30, right after the break. Anton Gavel hit a three-pointer but Trevor Mbakwe got Bayern within 46-35. Bryant stepped up with 7 quick points which kept his team out of trouble, 53-37. Taylor and Micic allowed Bayern to get a 63-45 margin after 30 minutes. A jumper by Micic and a layup by Stimac sealed the outcome, 67-45, early in the fourth quarter. Theis and Thompson tried to change things for Bamberg but it was too little, too late for the guests, as Bayern had cruised to an important win.