Cedevita Olimpija spoil Shengelia's debut, extend winning streak with road triumph over Virtus / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Michele Nucci/LPS via ZUMA Press Wire Credit Michele Nucci/LPS via ZUMA Press Wire

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (8-7) overcame hosts Virtus Segafredo Bologna (8-7) 86-74 (31-24, 20-20, 17-14, 18-16) on the road and stayed alive in the race for third place in EuroCup Group B.

Player of the Game EFF 20 Jaka Blazic Points 18 Accuracy 6-17 Rebounds 7 Assists 4

Virtus were coming off two wins, but their opponents were also unbeaten in their last four contests while having scored at least 92 points in each game, averaging 99.3 points during that streak.

The Slovenians shot rather poorly (45% on two-pointers, 35.1 from deep), but grabbed 48 rebounds while forcing the hosts to a quick pace that they couldn't follow. Virtus went 9/26 from distance and shot 38.8% two-pointers.

Jacob Pullen scored 20 for the winning side and Jaka Blazic added 18.

On his debut with the Italian champs, Tornike Shengelia logged 14 points on 6/12 from the field, plus 7 rebounds and 3 assists, but his efforts were to no avail, as his new team surrendered quite easily.

In an impressive offensive spree, Cedevita Olimpija managed to outscore the hosts by 31-24 in the first quarter. Despite Kyle Weems scoring 8 early points, the Slovenian side responded with Jaka Blazic and Jakob Pullen, who was perfect from deep (3/3 on three-point-shooting). The two combined for 18 points in the first ten minutes and accounted for more than half of their team's points.

Pullen's fourth dagger in the game made it 36-26 for the visitors, as Virtus only scored one basket in four minutes. On the other end, Jurica Golemac's team had no problem shooting from almost everywhere on the court, with Yogi Ferrell adding to their three-point spree (29-44).

Virtus tried to imitate Cedevita's game instead of slowing down the pace, but the visitors were loaded with confidence after hitting several shots from distance in the first half. Jaiteh and Sampson dominated the offensive glass, helping the Italians stay in the game, but Virtus had no other ways to score.

Zach Auguste poured six straight points, including a mid-range jumper that allowed Cedevita to close the third quarter with a double-digit lead (68-58).

Toko Shengelia took some extra post-up opportunities in the fourth quarter, but Virtus' struggling defense let Jaka Blazic score consecutive three-pointers off offensive rebounds. The guests increased their edge to 15 (79-64) and the game was essentially over, in spite of the four minutes remaining.

Virtus Segafredo Bologna: Tornike Shengelia 14 (4/9 2PT SHOTS, 2/3 3PT SHOTS, 0/1 FT, 7 REB, 3 AST), Kyle Weems 11 (4/7 FG, 2/2 FT, 4 REB, 3 AST), Mam Jaiteh 11 (5/8 FG, 1/2 FT, 14 REB), Milos Teodosic 9 (3/10 FG, 10 AST).

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubliana: Jacob Pullen 20 (3/6 2PT SHOTS, 4/8 3PT SHOTS, 2/2 FT, 3 AST), Jaka Blazic 18 (6/17 FG, 2/2 FT, 7 REB, 4 AST), Edo Muric 14 (4/9 FG, 4/4 FT, 7 REB), Yogi Ferrell 11 (4/12 FG, 1/2 FT, 6 AST), Zoran Dragic 11 (4/11 FG, 5 REB, 3 AST).

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