Steaua downs Trabzonspor, gets first-ever Eurocup win

Steaua CSM Eximbank Bucharest recorded its first-ever Eurocup win by edging Trabzonspor Medical Park 76-71 in the Romanian capital in Group D on Wednesday. Both teams are now tied in Group D, each with a 1-1 record. Titus Nicoara led the winners with 18 points. Denis Ikovlev added 15 on 5-of-6 three-point shots, Aleksandar Rasic had 14 while Marko Marinovic had 12 and 6 assists for Steaua. Tarence Kinsey led Trabzonspor with 21 points. Andrija Stipanovic added 13 while Dwight Hardy had 12 for the guests. Ikovlev hit three consecutive three-point shots while Mihail Paul and Marinovic added one each to give Steaua a 24-23 edge after 10 minutes. Sertac Sanli briefly gave Trabzonspor the lead, 26-27, as Ikovlev, Aleksandar Rasic and Marinovic allowed the hosts to extend their margin to 43-39 at halftime. An outstanding Nicoara allowed Steaua to get a 56-50 lead but Kinsey and Hardy made Trabzonspor tie it at 58-58 after 30 minutes. It all came down to the final seconds, as the guests got within 72-70, but Marinovic hit 4-of-4 free throw to secure his team's win.

Nicoara and Stipanovic traded baskets to get their teams going and a layup by Chris Cooper gave Steaua a 4-2 lead. Dwight Hardy sank a catch-and-shoot triple which Ikovlev matched at the other end. Ikovlev hit another three-pointer, and another one but Hardy and Stipanovic got Trabzonspor as close as 15-13. Paul and Marinovic joined the three-point shootout but an outstanding Kinsey allowed the guests to stay in the game, 23-21. Levente Szijarto split foul shots and a layup by Hakan Demirel fixed the score at 24-23 after 10 minutes. Rasic and Kinsey exchanged baskets early in the second quarter and Sanli put Tranzonspor back ahead, 26-27. Rasic nailed an eight-meter bomb but an unstoppable Kinsey tied the game again, 29-29. Rasic and Cooper fueled a 5-0 run which made Trabzonspor call timeout at 34-29. Darius Johnson-Odom followed a one-handed jumper in the lane with a triple but Paul kept Steaua in charge, 38-34. Hardy nailed a three-pointer, Marinovic answered with a five-meter jumper and another triple by Ivoklev boosted the hosts' lead to 43-37. A layup by Stipanovic kept Tranzonspor within 43-39 at halftime.

Rasic nailed a three-pointer immediately after the break and Cooper added a layup for a 48-41 Steaua lead. Stipanovic tried to change things with a three-point play and Kulig took over with consecutive bombs from downtown to get Tranzonspor as close as 52-50. Steaua found a go-to guy in Nicoara, who followed a big basket with a three-pointer for a 56-50 score. Kinsey answered with back-to-back shots from from downtown to tie the game at 56-56. A red hot Nicoara scored again and a one-handed jumper by Hardy tied it again, 58-58, after 30 minutes. Both teams struggled to score early in the fourth quarter until Bill Amis gave Steaua a 60-58 lead. Kinsey scored again but an outstanding Nicoara restored a 64-60 Steaua lead. Ibrahim Yildirim buried one from beyond the arc but Nicoara and Marinovic gave Steaua a 69-63 lead with less than 4 minutes left. Kulig hit a three-pointer and got help from Kinsey and Stipanovic to bring Trabzonspor as close as 72-70 with 23 seconds left. Marinovic drew a couple of fouls and hit all 4 free throws to lead a Steaua to a truly historical win!