Bilbao beats Panionios in last Eurocup game in 2013-14

In a game that had no impact in the final standings, Bilbao Basket defeated Panionios Athens 84-88 on the road in Group L on Wednesday. Both teams were out of chances to reach the elimination rounds and their final standings were already determined - Bilbao was third and Panionios fourth. Antanas Kavaliauskas paced the winners with 13 points. Alex Mumbru added 12 while Fran Pilepic and Damir Markota each had 10 for Bilbao. Kevin Langford led Panionios with 17 points. Vasileios Symtsak added 16, Alex Kyritsis had 12 while Errick McCollum got 11 for the hosts. Zoran Vrkic, Mumbru and Axel Hervelle led a 0-13 run which allowed Bilbao to get a 14-22 margin after 10 minutes. Panionios found a go-to guy in Symtsak, who had 12 second-quarter points. Pilepic, Kavaliauskas and a three-pointer by Lopez helped Bilbao to keep a 39-46 edge at halftime. Panionios got within 48-51 right after the break but Mumbru, Dairis Bertans and Markota combined for 6 three-point shots to boost Bilbao's lead to 57-68 after 30 minutes. Bilbao boosted its margin to 62-80 and never looked back, as Panionios only rallied when the outcome was clear.

A layup by Marc Antonio Carter and back-to-back dunks by McCollum gave Panionios an early 6-0 lead. Bilbao improved its defense, making Panionios go scoreless for more than 4 minutes. Meanwhile, Vrkic, Mumbru and Hervelle fueled a 0-13 run that gave the guests a 6-13 edge. McCollum scored again and found help from Symtsak but Mamadou Samb kept Bilbao way ahead, 12-19. A layup by Symtsak and a three-pointer by Pilepic fixed the score at 14-22 after 10 minutes. Roger Grimau shined with back-to-back layups and another triple by Pilepic made it an 11-point game, 18-29. Symtsak and McCollum kept pacing Panionios, bringing the hosts a bit closer, 25-33. Kavaliauskas and Vrkic stepped up for Bilbao to restore a 28-39 margin. An unstoppable Symtsak got help from Kyritsis and McCollum to keep Panionios within 35-43. Symtsak shined with back-to-back baskets but a three-pointer by Lopez boosted Bilbao's lead to 39-46 at halftime.

Kiritsis followed a three-point play with a jumper right after the break and Landon MilBourne brought Panionios as close as 46-49. Damir Markota and McCollum traded baskets and consecutive three-pointers by Mumbru gave Bilbao fresh air at 48-57. Carter answered from downtown but Markota and Dairis Bertans joined the three-point shootout fot a 53-63 Bilbao edge. Markota sank another one from beyond the arc but Langford singlehandedly kept Panionios within 57-68 after 30 minutes. Kavaliauskas followed a dunk-and-foul with a layup for a 59-71 Bilbao lead. A layup off a steal by Bertans made Panionios call timeout at 59-75. Langford tried to change things with a three-point play but he didn't find much help around. Meanwhile, Grimau and Hervelle allowed Bilbao to seal the outcome, 62-80, midway through the fourth quarter. Panionios kept trying and rallied once the outcome was clear but Bilbao had cruised to its last Eurocup win this season.