Nanterre downs Olimpija, stays perfect in Group A
In a battle between previously undefeated teams in Group A, JSF Nanterre recorded its second win in as many games by downing Union Olimpija Ljubljana 85-72 at home on Wednesday. Tasmin Mitchell paced the winners with 18 points and 7 rebounds. Gerald Robinson added 17 points while Mam Jaiteh had 14 and 7 rebounds for Nanterre, which never trailed in this game. Sava Lesic led Olimpija with 18 points. Zack Wright added 14, 8 rebounds and 5 assists while Ronalds Zakis and Miha Lapornik each had 10 points for the guests. Mitchell and Robinson allowed Nanterre to get a 28-15 lead after 10 minutes but Olimpija got within 49-42 at halftime and even closer, 52-50, right after the break. Jaiteh and Hugo Invernizzi allowed Nanterre to restore a double-digit lead, 67-57, after 30 minutes. The hosts extended their margin to 79-60 soon after that and never looked back.
Mitchell and Mykal Riley got Nanterre going with respective baskets but Lesic soon tied it at 4-4. It didn't last long, however, as Mitchell and Terrance Campbell each hit one from downtown in an 8-0 run that gave Nanterre the lead for good, 12-4. Olimpija called timeout and Sasa Zagorac stepped up with a basket but 5 quick points by Robinson boosted the hosts' margin to 17-8. Olimpija found a new go-to guy in Lapornik but Nanterre kept finding open shots, as Robinson and Riley allowed the hosts to get a 25-15 margin. A buzzer-beating triple by Warren Racine ignited the crowd, 28-15, at the end of the first quarter. Gregor Hrovat hit free throws which Mitchell erased with a second-chance triple. A put-back layup by Zakis and a three-point play by Hrovat got Olimpija a bit closer, 31-22. Invernizzi rescued Nanterre with a three-pointer but Blaz Mahkovic and Lapornik kept the guests within 36-28. Hrovat got Olimpija as close as 36-32, making Nanterre call timeout. Jaiteh and Campbell stepped up for the hosts and Mitchell struck from downtown to give Nanterre fresh air at 47-38. Lapornik and Lesic got Olimpija closer, 49-42, at the break.
The third quarter started with a rain of three-pointers, as Wright, Mitchell and Lesic one hit one in less than a minute. Zakis soon allowed Olimpija to get back in the game, 52-50. Fernando Raposo split free throws and consecutive baskets by Jaiteh restored a 57-50 Nanterre edge, making the guests call timeout. Blaz Mesicek made free throws which Robinson erased with another basket. Zakis kept pacing Olimpija but free throws by Mitchell and a three-pointer off the dribble by Invernizzi gave the hosts a 67-57 margin after 30 minutes. Jermey Nzeulie and Jaiteh stepped up early in the fourth quarter and a three-pointer by Osby Romero broke the game open, 77-60, with 7 minutes left. Olimpija called timeout but Jaitah scored again to make it a 19-point game, 79-60. Lesic and Wright stepped up for Olimpija but the guests had ran out of time, as all Nanterre fans were celebrating a well-deserved home win.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Eurocupbasketball.com