
Gran Canaria 2014 became the only undefeated team in Group E by topping Fraport Skyliners 58-71 in Frankfurt, Germany on Tuesday. Gran Canaria leads Group E with a 2-0 record and Fraport dropped to 0-2. Spencer Nelson led the winners with 14 points. Taurean Green added 13, Marquez Haynes had 11 while Mike Bramos got 10 for Gran Canaria. Jon Leuer led Fraport with 20 points. Jimmy McKinney added 15 for the hosts. Nelson and Bramos had all points in a 0-11 run that helped Gran Canaria to get an 11-17 margin at the end of the first quarter. Fraport kept running its offense through an unstoppable Leuer, who got some help from McKinney to make the hosts get a slim lead, 33-32, at halftime. Gran Canaria improved its defense late in the third quarter and a 0-9 run that Green capped with a three-pointer gave the guests their first double-digit lead, 40-50. Gran Canaria improved its margin to 44-61 early in the fourth quarter and cruised to a big road win.
Jermareo Davidson got Fraport going with a jumper that Juan Palacios matched with a dunk. Leuer sank free throws and Davidson matched Sitapha Savane's jumper with a slam that gave the hosts a 6-4 lead. Leuer kept pacing Fraport with a jumper but Gran Canaria improved its defense midway through the first quarter. Meanwhile, Bramos and Nelson combined for all points in a 0-11 run that made the guests gave a 8-15 margin. Leuer rescued Fraport with a three-point play but a layup by a red hot Nelson allowed Gran Canaria to get an 11-17 lead after 10 minutes. Leuer scored again early in the second quarter and Marius Nolte split free throws but Marquez Haynes answered from downtown for a 14-20 score. McKinney shined with consecuive baskets but free throws by Savane gave Gran Canaria some fresh air, 18-22. Leuer scored twice to bring Fraport as close as 22-23. Green buried back-to-back jumper but an unstoppable Leuer kept the hosts as close as 26-27. Palacios and Nolte traded baskets and a three-pointer by McKinney put the hosts back ahead, 31-29. Haynes answered from downtown but free throws by Johannes Herber fixed the halftime score at 33-32.
McKinney made free throws right after the break and bettered Palacios' layup with a three-pointer for a 38-34 Fraport lead. Savane rescued Gran Canaria with a layup and a jumper by Bramos tied it at 38-38. Bramos capped a 0-7 run with a three-pointer, as a jumper by Davidson kept the hosts within 40-41. Gran Canaria kept excelling in defense, making the hosts go scoreless for more than 3 minutes. Meanwhile, Haynes and Green struck from downtown in a 0-9 run that boosted the guests' margin to 40-50. Xavi Rey shined late in the third quarter to give Gran Canaria a 43-54 margin after 30 minutes. Green nailed a three-pointer early in the fourth quarter and soon added a jumper to make it a 15-point game, 44-59. Nelson shined with a three-point play that Herber matched with a bomb from downtown. McKinney hit free throws and a triple by Leuer gave Fraport some hope at 52-62. Nelson joined the three-point shootout and a layup by Haynes sealed the outcome, 52-67. Michael Thompson managed to get Fraport within 58-69 but it was already too little, too late for Fraport.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Eurocupbasketball.com