Hunter Hale with 21 points and crucial baskets in the final stretch of the match, as well as Anthony Cowan with 20 points, led Prometheus to a very important victory with 80-79 against AEK Betsson in the first round of 16 game of the Basketball Champions League .
A big battle took place in Dimitris Tofalos of Patras on Tuesday night (23/1). Prometheus was the one who smiled in the final, defeating AEK Betsson by a margin of 80-79 in the first round of 16 game of the Basketball Champions League.
Hunter Hale was pivotal, not only because he had 21 points (5/7 3-pointers), but because he made a great three-pointer to make it 78-75 with 76″ to go, but also a shot with 12.3″ to go. for 79-75. Anthony Cowan was also outstanding, scoring 10 of his 20 points in the third period, sparking the turnaround for Ilias Papatheodorou’s team.
From the Union, Justin Tillman stood out, who reached the double-double with 18 points, 9 rebounds, while newcomers Brandon Knight (12 points, 4 assists, 5 turnovers) and Austin Hollins (9 points, 4 rebounds) had a positive presence. .
17-19 points from opponent mistakes, 15-13 points from surprise, 5-20 second-chance points, 20-26 points from painted and 46-41 points from substitutes.
The race
The game was quite balanced in the first period. Prometheus had better partnerships, hence all 7 assists, while he took balanced shots from the perimeter (3/3 three-pointers). However, AEK Betsson was better in the game near the racket (6/11 two-pointers and 10 rebounds), which allowed them to close the quarter at -2 (20-18, 10′).
Juan Plata’s team went on a 12-0 run in the second period to make it 27-24 (14′) to 27-36 (17’35”) in their favor. Moments later they found themselves with a double-digit lead ( 28-38, 18’30”), but the hosts closed the first half with two three-pointers by Cameron Reynolds and Hunter Hale, to get within 5 points (35-40, 20′).
The visitors were +9 (37-46) at 21’50” after a three-pointer by Jordan McRae, but Elias Papatheodorou’s team overtook 52-51 at 25’12”, thanks to the outburst of Anthony Cowan, who scored 8 total points. Prometheus’ attack had now begun to “roll”, with 6/11 three-pointers in the third period making it 62-58 at 30′.
The Union tied the match again in the 35th minute (68-68) and the last minutes in Patras were dramatic. It was followed by a shot by Anthony Cowan and a three-pointer by Austin Hollins (69-71), before Chris Coffey made it 71-71 with an impressive nail. Brandon Knight made a layup, but Cameron Reynolds hit a 3-pointer to make it 74-73 with 2:21 left. Homer Netzipoglou made a set of shots (74-75), while Cowan had 1/2 from the line for the new tie (75-75).
Prometheus took advantage of a mistake by Netzipoglou, finding a huge 3-pointer from Hunter Hale with 76″ left to make it 78-75. He drew a foul with 12.3″ on the clock and 1/2 shot to make it 79-75. Brandon Knight in turn found himself at the charity stripe to cut AEK to 79-77 with 5.9″ left.
Cowan got another foul shot to make it 80-79 with one shot. When Jordan McRae missed on second, he took the rebound and was fouled by Reynolds and made both shots 2.2″ before the final horn, despite being instructed by the bench to miss on second. Brandon Knight got a steal. the ball after a bad pass from Cameron Reynolds in the final phase, but his long three-pointer attempted by Homeris Netzipoglou in the exhalation was unlucky.
THE REFEREES: Mazzoni, Baldini, Gedvilas
DECADES: 20-18, 35-40, 62-58, 80-79
PROMITHEAS (Papatheodorou): Kofi 5 (7 rebounds), Jones 6 (2/3 three-pointers, 5 rebounds), Koniaris, Reynolds 12 (4), Stevens 9 (5 rebounds, 3 blocks), Chrysikopoulos 7 (1), Cowan 20 (3/6 2-pointers, 2/6 3-pointers, 8/11 shots, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 5 turnovers) , Hale 21 (1/2 2-pointers, 5/7 3-pointers, 4/8 shots, 6 assists, 3 steals, 3 errors), Karagiannidis, Papas
AEK Betsson (Fouls): Hollins 9 (2/3 threes, 4 rebounds, 2 assists), Knight 12 (1/4 threes, 4 assists, 5 turnovers), Kouseloglou 1 (6 rebounds), McRae 10 (1/5 threes ), Netzipoglou 6, Agravanis 1, Hatzidakis 2, Hall 3 (1/2 three-pointers, 5 assists), Karabelas, Morgan 11 (4 rebounds, 3 errors), Randle 6 (2/6 three-pointers, 4 rebounds), Tillman 18 ( 9 rebounds)
Prometheus’ team stats: 11/28 2-pointers, 14/28 3-pointers, 16/25 shots, 28 rebounds (18 defensive – 10 offensive), 20 assists, 29 fouls, 18 turnovers, 9 steals, 6 blocks
AEK Betsson’s team statistics: 18/35 two-pointers, 7/22 three-pointers, 22/30 shots, 40 rebounds (23 defensive – 17 offensive), 15 assists, 26 fouls, 20 errors, 5 steals, 2 blocks
The next matches of the two teams: In the 2nd matchday of the round of 16, Prometheus will go to Spain to face Murcia (30/1, 21:30), while AEK Betsson will face Hapoel Holon away from home (30/1 , 19:30).