Banvit edges Khimki by 1 in Game 1 of semifinals

Banvit Bandirma and Khimki Moscow Region practically played to a standstill in Game 1 of their two-game total-points Eurocup Semifinals series. The hosts held on behind late free throws by E.J. Rowald and Can Maxim Mutaf for an 83-82 victory, setting up an exciting second leg next week in Russia. The biggest lead of the game was 6 points early in the third quarter of a game that was tightly contested throughout; the score was tied five different times in the fourth quarter alone. Rowland led the Banvit attack with 21 points and 5 assists. Mutaf made 4 of 7 three-pointers en route to 16 points, while Chuck Davis scored 15 and Sammy Mejia 11. Tyrese Rice paced Khimki with 22 points and 7 assists, Petteri Koponen added 16 points, Paul Davis 14 and James Augustine compiled 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Banvit won the opening tip, but Sergey Monia’s steal led to a Rice layup for the game’s first points. Keith Simmons split free throws to get the hosts on the scoreboard. After a pair of Paul Davis shots put the visitors in control, Chuck Davis hit a jumper and a three from the corner to tie the score at 5-5 after five minutes. Monia found Paul Davis for an alley-oop layup on an inbounds play. The pace picked up as Vladimir Dragicevic dunked for the hosts and Paul Davis scored in transition for the visitors. Mutaf’s three-pointer gave Banvit its first lead, 13-10. After a timeout, Koponen heated up with a three and a layup for Khimki to tie the score at 15-15. Rowland shined with a tough layup and a second Mutaf triple helped Banvit to a 22-19 lead after 10 minutes. Maxim Shelekto tied the game with a three to start the second quarter. Augustine and Chuck Davis impacted the game with put-backs at each end. Augustin drilled a shot with his feet on the three-point line to make it 28-29 midway through the quarter. Rowland put Banvit back in front with a three-plus-foul. After a Koponen triple, Dragicevic scored twice in an 8-0 Banvit spurt that Mejia capped with a jumper. Rice – with his first basket since the first minute – closed the gap to 40-36 at the break.

Rice and Rowland traded scores to start the second half. Rice canned a three to bring Khimki within 1 and then found Davis for a layup and a 44-45 edge. Mutaf responded with a triple for Banvit. Vladimir Veremeenko free throws and later a Mejia jumper gave the hosts a promising 53-47 cushion. Khimki called timeout, after which Rice came alive with 6 points in helping the visitors tie the game at 55-55. A Mutaf triple and Augustine put-back left it at 60-59 through three quarters. Safak Edge and Rice swapped threes to start the fourth quarter. Then Egor Vyaltsev heated up with a triple to tie the game at 65-65. After the two Davises each scored, Vyaltsev put Khimki ahead 67-70 with another three. Rice extended the difference to 5 before Rowland came back with Rowland free throws and a Mejia three-pointer to tie the game at 72-72 midway through the quarter. Rice made free throws to give Khimki the lead again, but Rowland responded with a triple. Monya’s first points came on a three with less than two minutes remaining that tied the game again, 77-77. Veremeenko made 2 free throws only to see Monya bury another three with 37 seconds remaining. Free throws by Rowland and Mutaf in the final half-minute gave Banvit a narrow victory and a 3-point cushion to protect in Game 2.