Saric stars as Efes smashes Sassari

Anadolu Efes Istanbul defeated Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari 85-62 behind a fine effort from Dario Saric. The promising forward tallied 18 points and 11 rebounds as Efes outrebounded its counterpart 52-36. The victory put Efes in a tie for first place in Group A alongside Real Madrid at 5-2, while dropped to 1-6 and sits in last place in the group. Saric dominated early and Matt Janning buried back-to-back three-pointers in a 12-0 first quarter run as the hosts stormed ahead. Efes reeled off 15 unanswered points in the second quarter as the lead reached 37-20. Sassari rallied late in the half and a David Logan triple made it a 7-point game early in the third quarter, but Efes brushed off the challenge and took the difference into the 20s in the fourth quarter for a comfortable win. Milko Bjelica scored 16 off the bench and Cedi Osman contributed 12 for Efes. Rakim Sanders led all Sassari scorers with 11 points and Shane Lawal posted 10 points and 15 rebounds. Logan and Miroslav Todic alos scored 10 each.

First quarter: Janning, Saric star in 12-0 Efes charge

David Logan got Sassari on the scoreboard, but Dario Saric drove for a layup at the other end. Jeff Brooks found Shane Lawal for a two-handed jam. Matt Janning heated up with back-to-back threes as Efes jumped ahead 8-4. Saric followed with a nifty low post move before Janning fed Saric on the break for a layup. Stephane Lasme rejected Rakim Sanders inside and Dogus Balbay drove through the Sassari defense for a slam that capped a 12-0 run. Sanders took charge for the visitors with a drive for a basket-plus-foul and then a score via goaltending to bring his team within 14-9. Saric converted a three-point play to keep the hosts in control. Sanders added another basket. Saric soon rose for a high-flying block on the defensive end. Both teams cooled down in the final two minutes of the half; Edgar Sosa split free throws and Milko Bjelica’s basket-plus-foul at the buzzer made it 20-12 after 10 minutes.

Second quarter: 15 unanswered points leave Efes in total control

David Logan knocked down the hosts’ first three-pointer and Sosa drove for a layup play foul to make it a 1-point game. Cedi Osman free throws kept Efes ahead. Lawal rejected Saric as Sassari looked to gain momentum, but Osman finished a fast break with a thunderous slam and foul and Saric turned an offensive rebound into 2 free throws and Dontaye Draper added a floater to give the hosts a double-digit lead, 29-19. Furkan Korkman hit a three from the corner and after a timeout, Bjelica extended the run to 15-0. Lawal split free throws to snap a four-minute offensive drought for Sassari. Stratos Perperoglou sank a three from the corner to make it 37-20. Lawal came up with a basket inside and Jerome Dyson scored on the break. A timeout failed to stem the Sassari momentum as Dyson sank a mid-range jumper. The visitors got as close as 11 before Lasme scored on the offensive glass. Emircan Kosut sank a long jumper, but Logan ended the half with a triple to keep Sassari in the picture at 43-33.

Third quarter: Visitors refuse to go away

Sanders nailed a triple from long distance to get the visitors going. After a Lasme jumper, Logan scored too. Saric rescued the hosts with a basket-plus-foul. Brooks free throws made it 49-40. Perperoglou restored a double-digit advantage for Efes with a long jumper. After a timeout, Balbay fed Perperoglou for a slam and a 13-point cushion. Lawal followed a Logan miss for a monster slam, but Saric calmly scored, drew a foul and sank the free throw to keep Efes rolling. Miroslav Todic’s basket was met by a Bjelica triple. Osman scored on the break as the lead swelled to 16. Massimo Chessa buried a three and Osman was called for an unsportsmanlike foul on Dyson. However Dyson split the free throws and a Bjelica triple made it 64-59.

Fourth quarter: Efes inflates cushion into the 20s for easy win

Dyson hit a jumper and Bjelica matched him with a hook. Osman’s steal led to a Korkman slam and a 69-51 lead. Saric whipped a pass to Osman for a layup that made it a 20-point game. Osman added a three and Bjelica did the same as the lead peaked at 77-51. Lawal ended a four-and-a-half minute scoring drought for Sassari with the outcome now clear. Saric received a nice ovation when he came out as the Efes fans had plenty of time to celebrate even before the final buzzer.