Huge Mike Tobey helps short-handed Valencia escape Promitheas / News - Basketnews.com

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Valencia Basket (7-3) traveled to Patras without six key players, as Jasiel Riveiro, Bojan Dubljevic, Jaime Pradilla, Klemen Prepelic and Xabi Lopez-Arrostegui are down with COVID, while Victor Claver is still recovering from injury.

3-pointers this season

32%7,8Points made:7,8Accuracy:31,6%Place in standings:16Record max:16Record min:4Most made 3FGs:Isaiah MilesTeamEuroCupStatisticsSchedule

Absences, however, were not enough to prevent the Spanish team from beating Promitheas Patras (2-7) 71-68 (15-14, 21-21, 16-22, 19-11), largely thanks to Mike Tobey who scored 22 points, grabbed 9 rebounds for a PIR of 25.

Promitheas, who played without injured forward Isaiah Miles and guard Charis Giannopoulos, saw EuroCup newcomer Trevis Simpson make a more than encouraging debut. The American guard went for 13 points on 5/7 field goals, while captain Dimitris Agravanis racked up a season-high 22 points on 8/10 from the field.

The hosts went scoreless in the game's final three minutes, where Kendrick Ray missed the target on several occasions, including the three-pointer which could have forced overtime.

In the first quarter, the Patras team had a hard time against Valencia's defense. Zouros's players kept taking perimeter shots to no avail, while also missing several lay-ups.

Thus, Valencia managed to get the upper hand, maintaining a slight edge throughout the most part of the first half which ended at 36-35 for the visitors. Nenad Dimitrijevic and Mike Tobey combined for 17 points over that span, leading the Spanish team's extraordinary 71% on two-point shots.

Promitheas started the third quarter with a six-point lead (49-43) and Dimitris Agravanis as the main scorer and creator. Labeyrie and Tobey had a hard time defending in the paint, despite scoring on the other end.

However, the 4-time EuropCup winners punished Promitheas for some unnecessary risks. Sam Van Rossom hit an open three-pointer to make it 60-59 with seven minutes left, while Tobey handed Valencia their first lead in the second half (61-60).

Promitheas packed the paint, trusting Agravanis to finish one-on-one balls. The Greek side picked up fast, taking advantage of Louis Labeyrie's nerves that cost him a technical foul (his 5th in the game).

The hosts got off on an 8-0 run (68-61), but Valencia gave them a taste of their own medicine in no time, erasing the deficit (68-68).

Josep Puerto hit 3/4 free-throws in the final minute, while Kendrick Ray missed a floater and then a three-point shot at the buzzer that could have changed the game's course.

Promitheas Patras: Dimitris Agravanis 22 (8/10 FG, 5/5 FT, 3 REB), Kendrick Ray 15 (6/19 FG, 1/1 FT, 5 AST), Trevis Simpson 13 (5/8 FG).

Valencia Basket: Mike Tobey 22 (10/16 FG, 2/3 FT, 9 REB), Nenad Dimitrijevic 10 (5/9 FG, 5 AST), Sam Van Rossom 9 (4 REB, 3 AST), Josep Puerto 8 (6 REB).

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