Monaco erase 21-point deficit, survive OT drama and advance to LNB semis / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Imago-Scanpix Credit Imago-Scanpix

AS Monaco avoided elimination in the most dramatic fashion possible by erasing a 21-point deficit and taking downSIG Strasbourg in an overtime thriller 82-80 (14-31, 15-17, 23-15, 20-9, 10-8).

Free throws this season

73%12,9Points made:12,9Accuracy:73,1%Place in standings:17Record max:26Record min:2Most made FTs:John RobersonTeamBCLStatisticsSchedule

Monaco won the best-of-three quarterfinal series 2-1. They will meet Pau-Orthez in the semis where teams play up to three victories.

Strasbourg took game control into their hands right from the start. They opened up the match with a 13-2 run, while later in the first tally, arranged another spurt, this time 13-0. Strasbourg had plus 18 points (27-9), which they managed to maintain until the halftime (48-29).

Strasbourg's biggest lead marked 21 points (40-19) in the mid-second tally.

However, led by Mike James and Donatas Motiejunas, Monaco came back into the game. EuroLeague's squad reduced their deficit to 7 points (48-55) in the third quarter after 8-0 and 8-2 spurts.

Monaco began the decisive period with yet another push (14-2). After Mike James and Dwayne Bacon's baskets, Monaco had plus one (66-65) with 3:25 to go. Both clubs were trading baskets and the result was tied at 70. Everything came to the last seconds.

Yannis Morin scored a duo and put Strasbourg in front (72-70) with 22 seconds left on the clock. Though, Mike James tied the match at 72 on the other side with 4 seconds to play. John Roberson had a chance to win it but his triple was off the mark. Teams went into overtime.

The additional 5 minutes went neck-on-neck, while Donatas Motiejunas and Dwayne Bacon gave their team a 3-point cushion (81-78) with 55 seconds left.

John Roberson poured in two successful free throws (80-81), as Bacon responded with a one of two (82-80). Strasbourg had 10 seconds for the answer but Monaco got a crucial stop and celebrated the W.

Mike James posted 24 points (7/17 2PT, 1/10 3PT, 7/9 FT), 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 6 PIR for the winners.

Monaco: Mike James 24 (5 REB), Donatas Motiejunas 18 (6 REB), Dwayne Bacon 13 (7 REB), Alpha Diallo 13 (8 REB), Yakuba Outtara 8 (13 REB).

Strasbourg: Yannis Morin 19 (10 REB), John Roberson 17 (7 AST), Amine Noua 14, MAtt Mitchell 12 (5 REB).

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