Strasbourg survive OT thriller to 2-0 start
By the Eurohoops team/ [email protected]
Mishandling ten-point leads was a common theme, but SIG Strasbourg beat Tofas Bursa, 94-89, in extra time on Wednesday night.
San Diego State product Matt Mitchell had 23 points, including eight after the third quarter. With nine points between fourth and overtime, Marcus Keene took his personal total to 16. Leo Cavaliere scored a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds. Stan Okoye added 14 points, including five in overtime as his team retired for the win on Day 2 of the Basketball Champions League regular season.
It certainly didn’t look good for the Lassi Tuovi-coached side after losing a ten-point lead and then falling ten-point behind. The hosts even trailed by five points, 76-71, down the stretch, but Keene from long distance and Bodian Massa sinking some free throws tied the game at 76-76. Following unsuccessful efforts by both sides, extra time was forced.
With help from the Rhenus Sport crowd, Strasbourg responded after losing twice to Tofas in the 2021-22 BCL regular season and improved to 2-0 in Group A of the 2022 edition- 23.
Rob Gray scoring 27 points was no match for the victory for the team coached by Dimitris Priftis. Boubacar Touré scored a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds. Tyler Ennis had 16 points. Suleiman Braimoh foul with 13 points. The team located in Tofas fell to 0-2.
On the injured list, Ike Udanoh was not available for Strasbourg. Tofas missed Khyri Thomas and Ilkan Karaman.
Post-match press conference:
Photo credit: Basketball Champions League