Champs stay alive with convincing win in Munich

Defending champion Real Madrid kept alive its chances of reaching the Top 16 by racing past Bayern Munich 67-86 on the road in Group A. Gustavo Ayon collected 22 points, 9 rebounds, 6 steals and 2 blocks and Sergio Llull scored 18 points as Madrid improved to 4-5. Sergio Rodriguez chipped in 9 points and 10 assists and Trey Thompkins had 11 points in the crucial victory. Bayern dropped to 4-5 with the defeat despite 22 points from K.C. Rivers against his former team and 10 points from Deon Thompson. The game was close through the first half, which finished with Bayern up 38-36, however a 2-18 third-quarter run highlighted a second half that saw Los Blancos outscore Bayern 29-50 to take the win.

First quarter: Ayon strong early on for Madrid

Svetislav Pesic made one change to his starting line-up with Rivers going against his former team in favor of Nihad Djedovic along with Alex Renfroe, Bryce Taylor, Dusko Savanovic and Deon Thompson. Madrid coach Pablo Laso started the game with the same first five with Sergio Rodriguez, Llull, Jonas Maciulis, Ayon and Felipe Reyes. Thompson started the scoring with a dunk in transition after a steal. Llull hit first for Madrid with a three for a 2-3 lead. After Rivers and Savanovic answered with three-pointers for the hosts, Rodriguez followed with a layup to make it 8-5. Bayern upped the margin to 12-5 on a Renfroe layup and jumper by Thompson. A long Rivers jumper had Bayern ahead 14-7, but Ayon scored the next 5 points on free throws and a dunk in transition and bonus free throw, and Trey Thompkins’s corner three put the defending champions ahead 14-15. The lead switched hands on the next four scores with Ayon scoring another basket in transition before Llull nailed a three-pointer to give Madrid the lead, 18-20, after 10 minutes.

Second quarter: Rivers scores 8 points to push Bayern in front

Jeffery Taylor struck first for Madrid with an inside basket. Paul Zipser came back at other end and put back an offensive rebound to make it 20-22. Madrid youngster Luka Doncic and Renfroe swapped two free throws before the guests went ahead 22-28 on a Jaycee Carroll jumper and Taylor score. Savanovic came out of a Bayern time out with a tip-in before new Madrid forward Maurice Ndour scored his first points for a 24-30 advantage. The guests were held scoreless for the next 2:15 and Bayern was able to even the game at 30-30 with a free throw and three-pointer from Bryce Taylor and Savanovic fouls shots. Ayon snapped the scoreless drought, but watched as Rivers nailed a three for a 33-32 Bayern lead. Pesic immediately took another timeout after another Ayon basket. But Rivers stepped up with another triple and a fancy layup as Bayern went ahead 38-34. Llull’s free throws cut it to 38-36 at intermission.

Third quarter: Madrid races ahead with 18-2 run

Both teams struggled to score to start the second half until Llull’s three-pointer at the 8:11- mark to give Madrid the lead. Rodriguez converted free throws to make it 38-41. Bayern finally scored on a Savanovic layup with 7:11 minutes left in the third quarter. Lllull answered with another three and then Ayon scored two more baskets for a 40-48 lead and a Bayern time out. Bayern continued to struggle offensively and Madrid was able to get out in transition with layups from Rodriguez and Llull as well as another score from Ayon to push the advantage to 40-54 - and another Bayern time out. Ayon followed with a free throw and a put-back of an offensive rebound as the lead swelled to 40-57. Bayern finally scored again to end the 2-18 run on a three-pointer from Zipser, snapping a nearly four-minute scoreless drought. Thompson came up with a layup and Rivers followed with a three-pointer to cut the gap to 48-58. But Thompkins punched right back with a three from the right corner. Jonas Maciulis free throws made it 48-63. Rivers nailed another long ball before Thompkins’ long jumper left Madrid ahead 51-65 after 30 minutes.

Fourth quarter: Madrid never lets Bayern get close

Maciulis started the fourth with a layup with Zipser scoring at the other end. Bayern’s offensive struggles returned and Madrid scored the next 7 points including an Ayon alley-oop and Rodriguez three to push the lead to 21 points. Thompson finally scored again for Bayern, but Maciulis hit from long range and Jeffery Taylor dunked after some fancy passing to make it 55-79 with less than five minutes to play. Rivers refused to give up with another three-pointer, but once again Thompkins was there for an answer with another triple for a 58-82 advantage with three minutes to play. Anton Gavel and John Bryant were able to score for Bayern and trim it to 20 points, but the game had long been decided.