Stelmet Zielona Gora gets key road win in Munich

Stelmet Zielona Gora knocked off Bayern Munich 78-71 for the Polish champ’s first ever Turkish Airlines Euroleague road win. A week after a heart-breaking loss at the buzzer to Olympiacos, Zielona Gora used a big third-quarter rally to take charge and held on the rest of the way. The win lifted Gora’s record to 2-4 in Group C, while Munich dropped to 3-3. Vladimir Dragicevic led the way for the winners with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks. Przemyslaw Zamojski scored 14 points and dished 6 assists, Christian Eyenga also scored 14 points and Lukasz Koszarek tallied 13 points and 7 assists. The visitors committed 6 turnovers, while forcing Munich into 15. Bayern lost its first home game of the Euroleague season. Nihad Djedovic scored 17 points in defeat, Malcolm Delaney added 13 and Chevon Troutman 10.

First quarter: Teams evenly matched through 10 minutes

Bayern coach Svetislav Pesic made four changes to his starting line-up with Delaney the only one who started last week against Galatasaray Liv Hospital. The other four starters were Djedovic, Robin Benzing, Troutman and John Bryant. Gora coach Mihailo Uvalin changed one spot with Zamojski returning to the line-up, replacing Kamil Chanas alongside Koszarek, Eyenga, Craig Brackins and Dragicevic. Dragicevic opened the scoring with a driving layup and Koszarek knocked down a long jumper for a 0-4 lead. Troutman’s free throws got Bayern on the scoreboard and Delaney followed with a three-pointer and a driving layup off the glass for a 7-4 lead. The guests twice cut it to 1 point before Djedovic’s basket in transition made it 11-8. Eyenga scored two straight baskets – the second on a thunderous dunk – and Zamojski drained a three-pointer from the left wing to give Gora an 11-15 lead. Lucca Staiger came back at the other end and knocked down a triple and Troutman’s jumper gave Bayern a 16-15 advantage after one quarter.

Second quarter: Bayern extends lead to 7 points

Heiko Schaffartzik came off the bench to hit a jumper for an 18-15 lead. The guests showed they were hungry for another win with Marcin Sroka hitting two layups and Erving Walker knocking down a jumper to take an 18-21 cushion. Bayern punched right back with a 9-2 spurt with Savovic throwing dunk a breakaway dunk and Bryant converting a three-point play for a 27-23 advantage. Zielona Gora pulled back to within two points on Dragicevic’s baseline jumper, but Bryant tipped in his own miss and then Robin Benzing drained a triple from the right wing for a 34-27 lead – and a Gora timeout. Koszarek came out with a jumper and Dragicevic cut the deficit to 35-31 at halftime.

Third quarter: Gora uses 18-5 run to take charge

Zamojski opened the second half with a triple and Koszarek followed with a long ball on the next possession to even the game at 37-37. Savovic answered from long range and Djedovic’s three increased the Bayern lead. The guests followed with the next 6 points including two baskets by Eyenga for a 43-45 lead and a Bayern timeout. Munich came out of the talk with Thompson getting a layup, but Brackins knocked down a triple and Zamojski scored in transition after a steal for a 45-50 Gora lead. While Bayern failed to convert at its end, Dragicevic made 3 foul shots for a 45-53 lead to complete the 0-8 run. Troutman ended the Munich drought with a three-pointer at the end of the shot clock. But Gora did not let up and Koszarek knocked down jumper, Adam Hrycaniuk scored two baskets and Zamojski scored to give Gora a 50-63 lead – finishing a 5-18 run. Taylor got the deficit to 52-63 at the end of the quarter.

Fourth quarter: Gora, Dragicevic fend off Munich fight

Troutman opened the fourth quarter with a three-point play to trim the deficit to 55-63 on the first possession of the quarter. Neither team would flinch defensively as Bryant scored the next points from the free throw line with seven minutes left to make it 57-63. Aaron Cel finally scored for Gora with a three off the glass. Two Dragicevic baskets pushed the lead to 60-71 with less than four minutes to play. Eyenga beat Delaney to a loose ball and converted the layup that brought he hosts within 62-75. Delaney gave the local faithful hope with a triple from the right corner to cut it to 10 points and Staiger’s triple made it 68-77. But Zamojski made a free throw and then Bayern failed to score at the other end as time kept ticking away till the visitors ran off with a big win.