By Eurohoops team | [email protected]
Karditsa from Greece pulled off a small upset in the opening round of the Basketball Champions League, beating Belgian Oostende away with a thrilling 95-93 victory after overtime.
The standout player for the Greek side was guard Brandon Jefferson, who finished the game with 23 points, including five impressive three-pointers. Other key contributors for Karditsa included El Ellis III with 14 points, Noah Horchler adding 12, and Demajeo Wiggins chipping in 10 points.
On the Oostende side, Noam Yaacov was the top performer with 27 points, while Aaron Estrada added 22, making them the most efficient players on their team.
Fans were treated to one of the most exciting matches of the Champions League’s first round in Oostende. The outcome remained uncertain until the final minute of overtime. Karditsa had a chance to celebrate victory in regulation time, but Silas Melson drilled a three-pointer that electrified the home crowd and sent the game into overtime with a score of 83-83.
Ultimately, Karditsa triumphed after a dramatic finish filled with free-throw tension to secure the win on Belgian soil. Oostende had a final opportunity to snatch victory when Haris Bratanovic grabbed an offensive rebound following Yaacov’s missed shot, but Pierre-Antoine Gillet’s three-pointer narrowly missed.
In the first game of Group G, Unicaja secured an easy 97-66 win over Mersin in Malaga.
https://www.eurohoops.net/en/fiba-champions-league/1877863/karditsa-defeated-ostende-after-a-dramatic-overtime/
