Keydren Clark's three-pointer with less than 3 seconds to go led Aris BSA 2003 to a 69-71 road win over Panellinios at Hellinikon Complex at the end of a great and balanced battle. The exciting duel saw many lead changes before Clark hit the game-winning shot. Clark finished with 22 points on 6 triples, while Spencer Nelson posted 13 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists and Dimitris Tsaldaris added 10 points for the guests, who host Bnei Hasharon next week. Ivan Radenovic bagged 18 points and 7 boards and Brad Newley scored 17 in a losing effort for Panellinios, which takes on Turk Telekom next.
Newley started in fashion scoring 7 points in less than five minutes to lead Panellinios to a shiny 9-4 start. Clark nailed a three-pointer to bring Aris as close as 10-9, but the hosts remained in control of the game's tempo for an 18-11 lead before the first quarter ended at 18-14. With the score 20-14, the guests went on a 6-15 tear punctuated by another Clark triple to take the lead for the first time, 26-29. But Panellinios reacted immediately with a 9-point run for a 38-32 advantage as Newly, Radenovic and Georgios Kalaitzis connected. The game remained balanced, though, as Aris trimmed the difference before halftime to 38-36.
The back-and-forth battle continued after the break. Clark chipped-in another three-pointer for a 45-48 Aris lead, but Manolis Papamakarios answered back in the same way for a 50-48 Panellinios edge. Five times the lead changed hands as the hosts managed to grab a slight 58-55 advantage after 30 minutes. Both teams endured some bad decision making in the beginning of the final quarter as the game remained scoreless for about three minutes. Panellinios went up 60-55, but Clark and Blagota Sekulic reacted for a 62-63 Aris lead. Anthony Grundy and Papamakarios helped the hosts to 66-63, but the visitors found solutions again for a 66-68 lead. Radenovic tied it from the line 68-68 with 25 seconds remaining. Clark stepped up for Aris to fire in the deciding three-pointer to make it 68-71 less than 3 seconds before the final buzzer. Newley missed on purpose the second of a pair of free-throws, but no one from Panellinios could get the rebound as Aris celebrated an important road win to start the Eurocup.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Stelios Kyriakoglou, Athens