Monaco blasts Promitheas

AS Monaco turned its showdown with Promitheas Patras into a one-sided affair after exploding to life in the first and second quarters en route to an 80-59 victory. The hosts outscored their opponents 33-6 in the first quarter and 21-15 in the second to leave the score 54-21 at the break as they outworked the visitors and led in every meaningful category. With the lead safe, Promitheas started to eat into Monaco’s lead in the third and fourth quarters and won the second half, but the damage was done. Despite the loss, which dropped Promitheas's record to 5-2, it secured a Top 16 berth thanks to other results. Monaco improved to 4-3 and can join Promitheas in the next stage with a win in Round 8. Dee Bost paced the winners with 16 points, including 9 of 9 from the free-throw line, plus 8 rebounds. Anthony Clemmons scored 15 points and collected 4 steals, Paul Lacombe 14 and Norris Cole had 11 points and 6 assists in his debut. For the visitors, Dimitris Katsivelis scored 12 and Leonidas Kaselakis 10.

Eric Buckner opened the scoring with a step-back jumper for Monaco. The hosts soared to a 10-0 lead soon after with Promitheas missing its first five shots. The visitors eventually got off the mark through Octavius Ellis, but Monaco was in no mode to slow down and extended the lead to 20-2 soon after. With time running out in the quarter, Monaco continued to exert its dominance as Cole sank free throws to increase the gap to 20. Things were getting out of hand at 26-2 with Cole causing problems driving straight through the middle and feeding his teammates. The first quarter ended at 33-6 with a mountain to climb for Promitheas. The second quarter started similarly with Lacombe hitting a long jumper. Promitheas eventually scored from open play through Dmitris Kaselakis, but Monaco went straight up the other end. Promitheas got its second open play basket of the night to make the score 43-13 with 4 minutes left in the half. Monaco pushed ahead again with scores from Bost, Clemmons, Lacombe and Yakuba Ouattara. The score at the half was 54-21.

Promitheas scored the first 8 points of the third quarter to cut the deficit with Leonidas Kaselakis scoring a three to leave it 54-29. Monaco made it 60-31 thanks to another Cole three-pointer. Promitheas mounted a mini-rally at the end of their third and continued to eat into the hosts’ lead. It was 64-38 after 30 minutes. Monaco scored the first points of the fourth quarter and led 67-38. The visitors went on a 2-12 run in the final quarter to take the sting out of the scoreline. It was 69-50 with five to play. A couple of threes from Cole and Kim Tillie sent Promitheas packing at 74-50. In the end, the start was too much for Promitheas to overcome and Monaco cruised to victory.

Pivotal performer

It was his first game in Monaco in front of his new home crowd and Norris Cole did not disappoint. He scored 11 points and chipped in with 6 assists in an unstoppable display in that first quarter, which ultimately won the game for Monaco. He also had 3 rebounds.

Did you notice?

AS Monaco was relentless in the first quarter. It let Promitheas score just 6 points in the first quarter with each of those points coming from the line. The visitors could not generate a single point in the opening 10 minutes from open play. Monaco’s lead was as high as 35 points in the second quarter. The home team never trailed for a single second during the game.

Next game

Monaco is home again on Wednesday, November 20 when it faces Maccabi Rishon LeZion knowing that a win sends it to the Top 16. Promitheas Patras visits ratiopharm Ulm that same night.