Venice survives a late Spirou rally

Umana Reyer Venice held off a comeback attempt from the visiting Proximus Spirou Charleroi, and improved to 2-1 record in Group C with 73-69 decision. Venice took the lead for good with an 8-0 run to end the third quarter, but Billy Baron led Spirou’s rally. The same player had a chance to tie the game in the waning seconds, but split free throws and the hosts managed to hold on. Jeff Viggiano hit 5 of 9 from downtown and finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds for the hosts. Benjamin Ortner collected 14 points and 9 rebounds, Michael Bramos netted 13, and Mike Green 11 points in victory. Billy Baron netted 23 and Jimmy Baron scored 17 for Spirou. Kevin Tumba scored 7 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in defeat.

A pair of triples, one from Jimmy and one from Billy Baron gave the visitors 2-10, but Viggiano answered with back-to-back threes for the hosts, and after a basket from Bramos, Viggiano’s third triple made it 15-14. After Billy Baron and Viggiano traded more threes, a put back from Michael Fusek made it 18-21 after 10 minutes. Anthony Lambot hit from downtown for Spirou to start the scoring in the second period, and baskets from Billy Baron and Seamus Boxley kept the visitors in front 22-28. Lambot’s 3 of 3 from the foul line made it an 8-point contest, 23-31, but Ortner strung together 5 points in an 8-0 run that tied the game, only for Jimmy Baron to give Spirou 31-33 halftime lead.

Viggiano hailed his fifth three-pointer in the opening minutes of the third quarter, before a three from Bramos and a basket from Green made it 41-38. Billy Baron and Bramos traded triples, and Bramos hit another one with 30 seconds to go in the third to cap an 8-0 run and extend it to 51-43 after 30 minutes. Billy Baron hit a triple to start the fourth, but Stefano Tonut matched it with a basket-plus-foul. A three-pointer from Venice’s Michele Ruzzier, and baskets from Ortner kept the hosts at the distance, 61-52 with 4 minutes to go. But Billy Baron started Spirou’s rally, scoring seven points in less than 2 minutes, then Pavel Pumperla’s three-point play cut the deficit to 65-64 in the final minute. Green hit a triple with 15 seconds left for the hosts, but Billy Baron nailed his fourth only six seconds later for 69-68. Phillip Goss only split free throws, giving visitors a chance to tie or win in the final 10 seconds, and Jimmy Baron drew free throws, but missed first and made the second one with 4 seconds on the clock. The hosts remained in front, as Green and Bramos sealed the deal for Venice.