Ankara beats Bamberg to grab share of Group J lead

Vanja Plisnic and Vladimir Golubovic each posted double-doubles as Aykon TED Ankara Kolejliler overwhelmed Brose Baskets Bamberg 81-68 to grab a share of first place in Group J. Both teams now sport 2-1 records in the Last 32 group. Plisnic tallied 23 points and 11 rebounds and Golubovic posted 16 and 13 as the hosts outrebounded Bamberg 42-27. Golubovic’s 5 offensive rebounds matched Bamberg’s entire team effort. Clay Tucker added 15 points and Caner Erdeniz had 10 for the winners. Anton Gavel paced the Bamberg attack with 12 points and 6 assists, Zach Wright had 11 and 5 and Casey Jacobsen also scored 11 for the German champs.

Neither team led by more than 3 points during the first eight minutes, during which Tucker shined for the hosts and D’Or Fischer for the visitors. Three-pointers by Plisnic and Erdeniz helped Ankara to a 27-20 lead through 10 minutes. Plisnic added another three before Aleksandar Rasic scored to cap an 8-0 start to the second quarter for a 35-20 lead. However Bamberg did not fold. John Goldsebrry, Karsten Tadda and Jacobsen hit threes to ignite a 1-12 charge that helped close the gap to 41-37 at halftime. The visitors lost their steam during the break and Ankara reeled off 14 unanswered points – 6 from Golubovic – to regain a commanding lead, 55-37. The lead reach the 20s on a Plisnic basket with three minutes left in the quarter. Bamberg kept shooting in the final stanza, but never got closer than 13 as Ankara marched to a well-deserved win.