Darussafaka debuts with overtime win over Dinamo Sassari

Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul made history in its Turkish Airlines Euroleague debut after rallying to force overtime and pull out an 83-74 win over visiting Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari in Group D on Thursday. The hosts dominated on the offensive boards and outrebounded Sassari 57-31, but it was Sassari that grabbed an early 11-point lead. Darussafaka rallied and took 32-31 lead into halftime, but neither team managed to take control after the break. MarQuez Haynes led the visitors to 61-66 lead late in the game, but a triple from Milko Bjelica forced overtime. It was all Darussafaka in the extra session, however, as Emir Preldzic had an all-round effort with 7 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. Bjelica finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds, while Reggie Redding had 12 points and 9 boards. Jamon Gordon added 12 points and 7 assists, while Marcus Slaughter scored 8 of his 10 points in the final 90 seconds of regulation. Semih Erden pulled down 12 rebounds and had 3 blocks for the hosts. Rok Stipcevic paced Sassari with 14 points. Haynes netted 12, and Joe Alexander collected 11 points and 8 rebounds.

First quarter: Sassari grabs early lead

An Oguz Savas put-back was the first Euroleague basket in Darussafaka history. Jarvis Varnado replied with a sky-hook, and David Logan followed with a fastbreak three-pointer. Savas scored inside again, but Christian Eyenga made a runner, and Varando added another from close range for Sassari, before a turnaround jumper from Brent Petway made it 4-11. Savas banked one in for the hosts, but Varnado got a favorable roll on a baseline jumper. Luke Harangody was the first scorer not named Savas for the hosts with a fastbreak basket, but Alexander's three-point play extended it to 9-16. Harangody kept Darussafaka in range, but Giacomo Devecchi grabbed an offensive rebound and seconds later sank a triple for a 11-19 lead. However, Harangody scored a pair of put-backs and cut the deficit to 15-19.

Second quarter: Hosts rally behind Arslan's triples

Devecchi hit another three to open the quarter and a driving layup from Stipcevic made it 16-24. Sassari continued the run after a timeout, with a triple from Lorenzo D'Ercole for the largest lead of the night, 16-27. However, Erden fought inside for a finger roll put-back, before Ender Arslan hit a pair of threes, with the second one coming from way downtown, to get within 25-27. Preldzic made it an 11-0 run to tie the game, and after a pair of free throws from Alexander, Bjelica nailed a corner three-pointer to give Darussafaka a 30-29 edge. The visitors answered with Petway feeding Eyenga for an easy dunk, but a fastbreak layup from Bjelica entering the final minute gave Darussafaka a 32-31 halftime advantage.

Third quarter: Sassari goes back in front

Reggie Redding hit a corner three to open the second half, and after Logan made an easy layup, Slaughter's monster slam made 37-33. Varnado answered with a basket-plus foul for Sassari, but Bjelica nailed another corner three for the hosts. Back-to-back close-range baskets from Eyenga tied things at 42-42. The visitors went in front with free throws from Stipcevic, and Alexander hit a long jumper a 43-46 edge. Stipcevic drove for a layup, then fed Alexander for a basket in traffic, but Jamon Gordon’s floater made it 46-50.

Fourth quarter: Bjelica’s heroics push the game into overtime

Bjelica scored a short turnaround jumper, and Serhat Cetin nailed a tough triple to cut the gap to 51-52. Gordon gave the hosts a slim lead, and after Haynes and Gordon traded tough baskets, a triple from Stipcevic made it 55-57 midway through the fourth. Gordon scored again, this time a layup high off the glass, but Sassari regained the lead with 2 free throws from Alexander, and another bucket from Haynes made it 57-61. After a timeout, Preldzic scored a tough basket inside, but Logan answered by driving the lane for an easy layup. Slaughter banked a tip-in, but Haynes drained a triple over Preldzic for 61-66 with a minute left in regulation. After another timeout, Slaughter had a quick dunk, and Gordon made a steal, but Petway blocked a layup attempt from Redding. However, Darussafaka made a defensive stand, and got another chance that Bjelica used, knocking down a triple to tie it at 66-66 with 16 seconds to go in the fourth quarter. After a timeout, Sassari’s inbound pass was stolen by Redding and Preldzic, and Bjelica had a chance to win it for the hosts, but missed a triple.

Overtime: Redding and Preldzic lead Darussafaka to historic win

In the extra session, Redding made a pair of free throws and Gordon nailed a long jumper to make it 70-66. Haynes knocked down a second-chance three-pointer for Sassari, but Slaughter fought his way inside for a basket, then made two fouls shots for a 5-point margin. Haynes drove for a tough basket inside for the visitors, but Redding’s three-point play extended the margin, and Prledzic followed it with move in the high post and basket for a 79-71 lead with 66 seconds left. Redding increased the lead to 10 points 20 seconds later to seal the deal. Still, Stipcevic hit a triple, while Preldzic and Bjelica each split free throws to set the final score.