With the rush of crowds filling Ano Liosion Indoor Stadium, AEK defeated Galatasaray 92-78 to secure qualification for the top eight teams in the Basketball Champions League. The Union even has a chance to take first place in the group on the last day of the game, where they host very strong Unicaja Malaga. On the other hand, Andrea Pistioli’s side were eliminated after seeing Málaga defeat Limoges on top of their own loss.

The big star for the Greek team was Bryndon Lemar – who has become an X-Factor since joining AEK – with 21 points (5/11 twos, 2/4 threes, 5/5 shots), while Vlado Jankovic also had a very good presence with 14 points and 7 rebounds.

However, the joy of qualifying was overshadowed by injuries to Kenny Williams early in the third leg and Janis Strelnieks some 3’30” before the final, the latter actually looking quite worrying as the problem turned out to be in the Achilles tendon.

The rating

• Unicaja Malaga 9 (4-1)*
• AEK 9 (4-1)*
• Galatasaray 7 (2-3)**
• Limoges 5 (0-5)**
  *You have qualified
  **You have been blocked

The race

The two teams were particularly hungry and efficient in the first third, which is also confirmed by the high score (29-31, 10′), with Daron Russell leading the way with 15 points (2/3 two-pointers, 2/4 three-pointers, 2/2 shots) from Galata.

At the start of the second period – and following Ilias Kanzouris’ recommendations – AEK upped the pressure and increased the tension in defence, keeping the visitors at 5 points (40-36, 16’30”) for six and a half minutes. Time wasted The fact that Andreas Pistiolis called at this point paid off, the Turks took an 8-0 lead (40:44, 18th minute), a three from Kenny Williams and two shots from Giannis Strelnieks and Pierre Oriola put Union ahead back in front (45-44, 1924″), but Russell put Galata ahead after a series of well-placed shots before the break with a short header (45-46, 20′).

Seconds after both teams returned from halftime, Kenny Williams felt a quadriceps and went to the dressing room and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. That setback didn’t deter AEK, who were up +6 (61-55) by the 28th minute. Of course, Galatasaray didn’t want to give up and came close to the basket before the start of the last and decisive third (63:31, 30th).

With a streak of 8 unanswered points to 33’25”, the Queen found herself with a double-digit lead for the first time (71-61), laying the foundation for victory. Just before the end of the 35 minutes of the game, Pierre Oriola and Dylan Ennis were given a technical penalty after exchanging some French.With about 3’30” to go on the final horn, Janis Strelnieks also went down with an Achilles tendon injury. Not even this bad moment deterred AEK, who achieved the positive result, thereby verifying their ticket to the next stage of the competition.

THE REFEREES: Glicic, Ciulin, Gedvilas

THE DECADES: 29-31, 45-46, 63-61, 92-78

AEK (Kantzouris): Lemar 21 (5/11 2-pointers, 2/4 3-pointers, 5/5 shots, 2 rebounds, 2 assists), Flionis 8 (1/3 3-pointers, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block), Miles 5 (1/5 threes, 4 rebounds), Gondikas 4, Williams 9 (3/3 threes), Xanthopoulos 3 (1), Oriola 7 (7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals), Jankovic 14 (7 rebounds), Madsen, Strelnieks 15 (2/4 3 points, 3 rebounds)

GALATASARAI (Gun): Caleiro 12 (3), Ennis 5 (3 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 turnovers), Kambaja, Koksal 3 (1), Russell 28 (6/12 2-pointers, 3/6 3-pointers, 7/8 shots, 6 Rebounds, 3 assists, 2 fouls), McGee 10 (1/6 trebles), Mustafa 6 (2), Ristic 12 (8 rebounds), Agwa 2

Team stats from AEK: 21/37 2-pointers, 10/25 3-pointers, 20/24 shots, 33 rebounds (25 defensive – 8 offensive), 18 assists, 7 steals, 2 blocks, 8 fouls

Galatasaray team stats: 17/33 2-pointers, 10/23 3-pointers, 14/19 shots, 31 rebounds (25 defensive – 6 offensive), 13 assists, 4 steals, 3 blocks, 15 fouls

The next games of the two teams: On the next matchday, which is also the last one in the round of 16, AEK Unicaja hosts Malaga (21/03, 19:30 CET), Galata plays Limoges in France (21.03., 7:30 p.m.).