Prometheus got the win against AEK for the last 16 of the BCL with a reversal from -9 in the 2nd half thanks to the duo of Hale and Cowan.
The team of Patras in its maiden “civil war” in the European Cups obliged AEK to its 6th defeat in its last 7 matches at home and abroad!
The match
With the two teams “caught” offensively in the first minutes of the match, the score remained at relatively low levels for the pace of both and their offensive solutions, especially from AEK’s side. Prometheus led 12-7 on Hale and Stephens at the half and held the lead until the end (20-18) with AEK gaining momentum with the presence of Tillman and Morgan.
Streak and overtaking
In fact, the “queen” overtook for the first time in the match at the beginning of the 2nd period (20-21) and reacted even better when the hosts with the cooperation of Cowan and Coffey made the score 27-24 (14’22”).
The Union putting out more tension in its defense and finding offensive solutions from various players, including the newcomer Hollins, ran a 12-0 run in the next 3 minutes taking not only the lead but also the difference (27-36) at 17’35 ” keeping the reins of the score until halftime (35-40).
Unstoppable Cowan
In the first four minutes of the 3rd period, not much changed since AEK was finding answers to Heil’s individual actions keeping a stable lead (42-51) at 23’50. But that’s where Anthony Cowan’s machine took the lead. The American guard with two consecutive three-pointers ignited his spark, reached 8 points in a row and helped Prometheus run a 10-0 run and take the lead again (52-51) and all this in less than two minutes!
The difference even reached 5 points (60-55 at 28’18”) with AEK making one mistake after another (6 in total in the 3rd period) and closing the quarter with Prometheus at +4 (62- 58).
Change of psychology
Entering the 4th period, Prometheus with a three-pointer by Chrysikopoulos raised the difference in his favor to its maximum value, to +7 (65-58) at 30’42”, but somewhere there the home team lost their concentration and AEK took advantage of it. With Randle hitting a three-pointer and a basket by Tilman, the Union reduced the lead to 65-63 (33’11”) in 2.5 minutes, forcing Papatheodorou to take a timeout.
AEK was now better on its feet and with Tilman after a technical penalty on Prometheus’ coach, tied the game 68-68 with 5.5 minutes left and the match starting from the beginning! With its people in the stands of “D.Tofalos” giving an extra boost, the Plathas team overtook with a three-pointer by the experienced Austin Hollins 4 minutes before the end (69-71).
Hale hangman
With the match hanging by a thread Hale had 0/2 shots at 36’30” but Coffey tied it with a scary follow-up nail off a missed Cowan layup (71-71). Brandon Knight answered immediately (71-73) but Reynolds with a three-pointer 2’15” before the final put the home team in front again, who at that point were scoring their 13th in the match in 26 attempts!
Netzipoglou with 2/2 2’05” for the finale made it 74-75 but for no reason immediately after that he gave 2 shots to Cowan who put one for 75-75 (2’02”). AEK made a cheap mistake with Morgan 1’41” to the end and Hale with a three-pointer right at the end of Prometheus’ attack from Cowan’s 9th assist made it 78-75 (39′)!
AEK missed two chances to score with Knight and Netzipoglou, Jones also missed for Prometheus in the 25” but Koniaris took the offensive rebound and Hale in the 12” was fouled for shots and the chance to “end” the match . The American put only the 2nd for 79-75. Knight fouled out at 6” for 79-77 (2/2), Cowan at 4” for 80-77 (1/2), McRae at 2” for 80-79 (1/ 2).
After the time-out in Prometheus’ rebound, Knight stole the ball and gave it to Netzipoglou, who, however, missed a three-point shot at the end of the game, with the victory remaining for the Patrinos.
The ten minutes: 20-18, 35-40, 62-58, 80-79
PROMITHEAS OF PATRAS (Papatheodorou): Kofi 5 (1/5 assists, 7 rebounds, 4 errors), Jones 6 (2/3 3-pointers, 5 rebounds), Koniaris (0/4 shots), Reynolds 12 (4/5 3-pointers), Stephens 9 (4/6 2-pointers, 5 rebounds), Chrysikopoulos 7 (2/3 2-pointers), Cowan 20 (3/6 2-pointers, 2/6 3-pointers, 8/11 shots, 9 assists, 2 steals, 5 turnovers), Hale 21 ( 5/7 3-pointers, 4/8 shots, 6 assists, 3 steals, 3 fouls), Karagiannidis, Papas
AEK (Fouls): Hollins 9 (2/3 3-pointers, 4 rebounds, 2 assists), Knight 12 (2/4 2-pointers, 1/4 3-pointers, 5/6 shots, 4 assists, 5 turnovers), Kouseloglou 1 (0/3 shot, 6 rebounds), McRae 10 (3/11 shots), Netzipoglou 6 (2/2 two-pointers, 2/2 shots), Agravanis 1, Hatzidakis 2, Hall 3 (1/2 three-pointers, 5 assists, 2 errors), Karabelas, Morgan 11 (4/6 2-pointers, 3/4 shots, 4 rebounds, 3 turnovers), Randle 6 (0/3 2-pointers, 2/6 3-pointers, 4 rebounds), Tillman 18 (6/9 2-pointers, 6/8 shots, 9 rebounds, 3 fouls)