Trento rallies from 14 down, beats Olimpija

Newcomer Dolomiti Energia Trento rallied from a double-digit deficit to beat the visiting Union Olimpija Ljubljana 90-77 on Wednesday night. Trento claimed back a share of the first place in Group A, improving to 4-2 record, while Olimpija dropped to 2-4. The visitors led by as many as 14 points in the second quarter, and led 40-51 in the third, before Trento used a 21-7 third-quarter spurt to turn a double-digit deficit into a 61-58 lead. The hosts never looked back after that, quickly extending advantage into double-digits, and cruising the rest of the way. Trent Lockett scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half, and Davide Pascolo scored all of his 13 in the last two quarters to lead the hosts. Filippo Baldi Rossi netted 14, Jamarr Sanders had 12, while Andres Forray contributed with 11 points. Dominique Sutton collected 9 points and 10 rebounds in victory. Ronalds Zakis had 20 points plus 7 rebounds for the visitors, Sava Lesic scored 16, Zach Wright had 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, while Miha Lapornik netted 11 in defeat.

Offenses struggled to find their rhythm in the first 5 minutes, before Zakis had a put-back to get Olimpija going, and Lesic added to the tally and 7-10. After Sanders and Sutton helped get things even at 12-12, Zach Wright had consecutive baskets, and Vlatko Cancar had a put-back during a 0-9 run. It was 13-21 after 10 minutes, but a pair of baskets from Zakis at the start of the second made it 13-25. Baldi Rossi hit a three-pointer for the hosts, but a triple from Lesic pushed the lead back into double figures, 20-30, and more baskets from Zach Wright and Lesic extended it to 22-36. Lockett had a basket-plus-foul for the hosts, and Julian Wright converted a fast break. Olimpija went to the line often before the break, hitting 6 of 6. Sanders hit a triple for Trento, before Zakis and Sutton traded baskets in the final minute, making it 34-44 at halftime.

Lockett had couple baskets for the hosts, but Miha Lapornik buried a three for Olimpija, 38-47 after 2 minutes in the third. Lesic pushed the margin back into double figures, but Pascolo had a fastbreak basket-plus-foul and Lockett scored six more points to cut get Trento within 51-55. After Lapornik hit another triple, baskets from Pascolo and Sanders completed the rally, giving Trento 61-59 after 30 minutes. Baldi Rossi had a three-pointer and Pascolo a put-back for Trento, before a fastbreak basket from Sutton and a triple from Sanders opened 71-61 with 7 minutes to go. Margin continued to grow as Forray hit a three and Lockett had a put-back, 79-64. Lesic and Zakis kept Olimpija alive, but Julian Wright had a three-point play for Trento. Lapornik and Lockett traded threes to make it 88-73 with 2 minutes left to play, as Trento was well on its way to victory.