Cedevita dominates Fiat for a big road win
Cedevita Zagreb took a big step towards a place in the Top 16 by dominating from start to finish in a big 65-87 road win against Fiat Turin on Wednesday. Both teams now hold 3-3 records for a share of third place in Group A standings, but Cedevita holds the tiebreaker as it overcame a 3-point opening round loss against Fiat. The visitors hit 8 of 11 three-pointers in the first half, held an 18-point lead after 10 minutes, and never looked back. Kevin Murphy led in victory with 24 points on 5-for-7 three-point shooting. Andrija Stipanovic and Will Cherry scored 13 apiece, and Filip Kruslin netted 12 in victory. Sasha Vujacic and Giuseppe Poeta each scored 14 for the hosts, and Deron Washington had 10 in the losing effort.
Vujacic connected from downtown and Diante Garrett scored a pair of baskets, but Fiat did not get much more than that in the first quarter. Kruslin and Stipanovic scored all the Cedevita points in the opening four minutes for a 9-13 lead. Stipanovic's bucket also sparked a big Cedevita run, during which Murphy had 8 points, including a three-point play and a triple, and Stipanovic scored twice more from close range as Cedevita assumed control and opened a 12-30 margin after 10 minutes. The hosts struggled offensively, as Kruslin, Chris Johnson and finally, Murphy hit back-to-back-to-back threes to open a 16-39 lead. Lamar Patterson hit a three, and Poeta gave life to Fiat's offense late in the second quarter with 10 quick points by getting to the rim. But triples from Murphy and Cherry, the latter at the buzzer, kept Cedevita up 31-53 at halftime.
Turin saw Patterson, Washington and Garrett get some offensive production early in the third quarter, but Murphy had 8 points – including two more triples – to extend the margin more, and Kruslin
hit a jumper that made it 37-65. More visitors’ threes, one from Cherry and a buzzer-beater at the end of the quarter from Roko Ukic made it 45-73 after 30 minutes, and the same player’s floater opened a 50-80 advantage with seven minutes to go. Cedevita cruised until the final buzzer, for its first road win of the season.
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Eurocupbasketball.com