Towers take down Lietkabelis despite career-match by Gediminas Orelik / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: BNS Credit BNS

Hamburg Towers (1-3) edged out Lietkabelis Panevezys (2-2) 100-96 (33-23, 17-22, 17-21, 33-30) to get theirfirst victory in European tournaments in the club's history.

Player of the Game EFF 25 Lukas Meisner Points 20 Accuracy 6-9 Rebounds 7 Assists 2

Lietkabelis did not cope with the brutal speed of the rivals from the first minutes. Towers gained an early 12-point lead in the first period (30-18).

Lietkabelis kept getting closer throughout the match but could not retake control of the game. The Lithuanian club had the best chance to do so in the fourth quarter when Vytenis Lipkevicius scored a two-pointer with a foul (70-73).

From that moment on, Lietkabelis lost the stretch 7-22 and were able to get back on track with only beastly efforts. With 1 minute to go, Panagiotis Kalaitzakis converted one free throw but Gediminas Orelik grabbed the rebound and hit a trey (93-97).

While Towers kept making mistakes from the charity stripe, Lietkabelis reduced the deficit to three points and had the ball in their hands (95-98). Though, Orelik could not convert both free throws and there was not enough time left.

"We made a lot of mistakes in the defense, and they punished us without mercy," Nenad Canak summed up the match.

For the winners, Lukas Meisner contributed with 20 points (2/2 2PT, 4/7 3PT, 4/6 FT), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 4 drawn fouls, and 25 PIR.

Gediminas Orelik led the route for Lietkabelis, posting 31 points (4/6 2PT, 7/14 3PT, 2/3 FT), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 28 PIR.

Lietkabelis: Gediminas Orelik 31 (4/6 2PT, 7/14 3PT, 5 REB, 28 PIR), Nikola Radicevic 13 (12 AST, 26 PIR), Djordje Gagic 13 (5/7 2PT, 8 REB, 2 BLK), Panagiotis Kalaitzakis 11 (6/8 FT, 5 REB, 4 TO), Karolis Giedraitis 8 (2/4 3PT).

Towers: Lukas Meisner 20 (4/7 3PT, 7 REB, 25 PIR), Jaylon Brown 18 (3/8 3PT), Christen Robin 13 (2/3 3PT), Seth Hinrichs 12 (5/5 2PT, 6 REB, 4 AST), Caleb Homesley 10 (3/9 2PT), Justus Hollatz 9 (3/4 3PT, 5 AST), Maik Kotsar 9 (4/7 2PT).

Highlights

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