Trento snaps losing streak, beats ASVEL to stay alive

Dolomitri Energia Trento stayed alive in the hunt for the 7DAYS EuroCup Top 16 by beating LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne 79-77 to snap a five-game losing streak. Despite playing without suspended leading scorer Nikola Jovanovic, Trento had five scorers in double figures, paced by Dustin Hogue's double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds. Beto Gomes added 16 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks, Aaron Craft and Toto Forray both had 11 points and combined for 6 rebounds and 7 assists, and Diego Flaccadori added 10 points as Trento improved to 2-5 in Group C. ASVEL saw its five-game winning streak stopped to fall to 5-2 despite Miro Bilan picking up 16 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks, Charles Kahudi scoring 15 points, AJ Slaughter picking up 14 points and Theo Maledon adding 10 points.

David Lighty opened the scoring for the guests, but Forray scored 5 straight points for a 9-3 lead. Kahudi came off the ASVEL bench and nailed 2 three-pointers before a four-point play from Slaughter helped the visitors move ahead 17-20. Forray connected again from long range and the game was even 22-22 after 10 minutes. Trento scored the first 4 points of the second quarter only to watch Bilan spark a 4-12 spurt to go up 30-34. Kahudi added another triple. Trento pulled back to even it 40-40 at the break. Slaughter opened the second half with a three-pointer, but the hosts got 3 three-pointers from Gomes and a three-point play from Hogue as Trento moved ahead 59-51. Maledon answered with a three-pointer and Bilan's three-point play cut the gap to 59-57 after 30 minutes. ASVEL continued the run with the first 4 points of the fourth quarter, which were answered by 2 scores from Flaccadori for a 64-61 Trento lead. Mantas Kalnietis finally got on the board with a three-pointer and a layup and Slaughter's score had ASVEL ahead 68-72 with just more than three minutes left. But the Trento defense held ASVEL to just 1 point in more than two minutes while Craft scored 5 points and Flaccadori had a steal and layup in opening a 77-73 lead. Slaughter managed to hit a three-pointer, but then Flaccadori rebounded a Craft missed three-pointer and made 2 free throws with 8.6 seconds left. Craft later corralled the rebound of Slaughter's missed free throw with 4.1 seconds and intelligently threw the ball away to seal the outcome.

Game-changing sequence

In the final 1:25 minutes, the Trento defense drew an offensive foul and then picked up a steal and layup from Diego Flaccadori before Aaron Craft's reverse layup and free throw made it 77-73. And then Flaccadori grabbed an offensive rebound with 8.6 seconds left and hit 2 free throws to ice the game

Pivotal performer

Dustin Hogue was outstanding all game for Trento with 20 points and 10 rebounds though the big man suffered an injury in the final two minutes.

Telling numbers

Trento committed 13 turnovers while forcing 19 turnovers for ASVEL. The hosts also grabbed 10 offensive rebounds in winning the rebounding battle 31-28.

Next games

Trento’s chances of reaching the Top 16 will increase if the club can make it two in a row next week at Zenit St. Petersburg. ASVEL looks to return to its winning ways next week as it travels to Turk Telekom Ankara.