Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius (5-5) was unable to overcome the group leaders in the EuroCup ("BKT EuroCup") game held in Turkey. At the start of the second round in Istanbul, the team from Vilnius fell to the Bahçeşehir College (9-1) with a score of 74:84 (18:19, 18:15, 18:25, 20:25) after a hard-fought battle. 

Despite the loss, the Wolves remain among the top six teams in Group A standings, securing a position that grants them the right to compete in the playoffs. 

The hosts began the game with a couple of accurate three-pointers, taking an 8:3 lead and prompting Alessandro Magro to call an early timeout. Following the timeout, the Wolves' performance improved. Anthony Cowan sank a three-pointer, and Marek Blaževič later scored from under the basket, putting the visitors ahead 14:12. However, the Turkish side finished the quarter stronger, regaining the lead (19:18). 

Most of the second quarter saw constant changes in the leading team. Midway through, Bahçeşehir held a narrow one-point lead, 27:26. With less than three minutes left until halftime, M. Blaževič made a free throw to give Wolves Twinsbet a 31:29 advantage. As the quarter wound down, Andrew Andrews hit a three-pointer, giving the visitors a four-point lead, but the hosts managed to cut the deficit to two by the break, 36:34.

After halftime, the game followed a similar pattern to the second quarter, with the lead shifting back and forth between the teams. Midway through the third quarter, the hosts hit two consecutive three-pointers, pulling ahead by five points (51:46). This margin remained intact heading into the final 10 minutes, as Andrew Andrews scored in the closing seconds, making it 59:54. 

Just one minute into the final quarter, A. Magro called another timeout, as the deficit grew to nine points (63:54). However, the Wolves were unable to execute a successful offensive play afterwards, while "Bahçeşehir" extended their lead to double digits (66:54). Midway through the quarter, the Wolves managed to cut the deficit in half (63:69). 

Still, the Lithuanian team could not turn the game around. With a minute and a half left to play, the Wolves trailed by just six points (78:72). However, Jaleen Smith delivered a crucial three-pointer for the hosts, effectively sealing the game. After this blow, the Wolves were unable to recover. 

The Vilnius team missed Jeffery Taylor, who did not travel to Turkey due to a back injury. 

„Wolves Twinsbet“: Anthony Cowan 23, Andrew Andrews 18, Tre’Shawn Thurman 11, Marek Blaževič 10, Regimantas Miniotas and Kristupas Žemaitis 4 each, Garrison Brooks and Matas Jogėla 2 each. Vaidas Kariniauskas and Arnoldas Kulboka did not score, Daniel Baslyk and Justinas Marcinkevičius did not play.

„Bahçeşehir“: Axel Bouteille scored 19, Jaleen Smith, CJ Massinburg, and Tyler Cavanaugh – 13 points each.

Coach comments

The next EuroCup game for "Wolves Twinsbet" will take place on December 11 in Vilnius against Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel). 

(Photo by Saulius Čirba)