Ergin Ataman takes responsibility for falling apart, notes crucial mental mistake / News - Basketnews.com

"If a strong team like Efes, up 16 points in the last 15 minutes at home lost the game, it's my fault," Ataman said.

Credit: IMAGO/kolbert-press - Scanpix Credit IMAGO/kolbert-press - Scanpix

FC Bayern Munich pulled off a spectacular second-half rally for an 89-81 road win that stunned hosts Anadolu Efes Istanbul on Friday at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall.

Player of the Game EFF 22 Othello Hunter Points 18 Accuracy 7-10 Rebounds 9 Assists 0

Trailing by 16 points with 14 minutes left, Bayern stormed back and ended a five-game road losing streak. Othello Hunter led the charge with 18 points on a career-high 4-for-6 shooting from downtown.

"It's a very strong loss for us, this game. For 25 minutes, we played perfectly, but then we stopped," coach Ergin Ataman said after the game. "There is not any reason for that. It's very difficult to make a comment about those minutes after the halfway point of the third quarter.

We tried to do everything: we made all the rotations and tried to change the players. But when we started to miss on offense, we forgot to play defense, and Bayern found incredible shots, incredible three-pointers, especially for Hunter. And then, with the panic, we lost the game."

Anadolu Efes also suffered from a 23-36 disparity on the boards.

"The only complaint is Bayern took 10 offensive rebounds and we took only 2 on our end. I think that every time we shot the ball, everyone thought we would make it," the 57-year-old specialist pointed out. "This is a mental problem for the last quarter, but anyway if a strong team like Efes, up 16 points in the last 15 minutes at home lost the game, it's my fault. That's all."

With Friday's victory, Bayern improved to 8-12. Meanwhile, Efes fell to 10-10.

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