Anadolu Efes reaches victory in overtime!

The Anadolu Efes Men's Basketball Team defeated Lithuania's Zalgiris 86-82 in overtime in the seventh week of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, after the regular time ended in a 74-74 draw.

With this result, Anadolu Efes secured its 3rd win, while Zalgiris suffered its 4th defeat.

Zalgiris, which found points through Giedraitis and Hayes against an Anadolu Efes side that started the match sluggishly, took a 14-6 lead in the 8th minute. Anadolu Efes recovered with baskets from Clyburn and responded with a 9-0 run, but the first period ended with the visiting team leading 14-13.

Carrying its effective play into the second period, Anadolu Efes made the score 25-16 in the 14th minute with points found through organized attacks. Maintaining control with its high-tempo play, the navy-and-white team went into the locker room leading 38-26.

Starting the second half with a 6-0 run, Anadolu Efes extended the lead to 18 points (44-26) in the 22nd minute. However, Zalgiris, finding points through Smits, Dimsa, and Manek against the navy-and-white team, which failed to show enough toughness on defense, began to close the gap rapidly. The final quarter began with Anadolu Efes leading 51-46.

Carrying the momentum it had gained into the final period, Zalgiris took a 54-53 lead in the 32nd minute with points from outside shots. Turning the score back in its favor with baskets from Thompson, Clyburn, and Larkin, Anadolu Efes entered the final 2 minutes leading 72-67 with the contribution of Willis from outside shots. Responding to the navy-and-white team with an effective performance from Evans, Zalgiris narrowed the gap to 2 points (74-72) as the final minute approached. The Lithuanian representative scored a basket with Evans 22 seconds before the end of its final possession to make the score 74-74. In Anadolu Efes' final possession, Larkin could not convert his shot from behind the three-point line, and the match, which ended 74-74 in regular time, went to overtime.

In the overtime period, which saw baskets traded back and forth, the score was tied at 82-82 entering the final minute. Anadolu Efes asserted its dominance over its opponent with baskets from Zizic and Larkin in the final minute and left the court with an 86-82 victory.

Arena: Sinan Erdem

Referees: Emilio Perez (Spain), Carlos Cortes (Spain), Marko Juras (Serbia)

Anadolu Efes: Larkin 14, Thompson 17, Erkan Yılmaz 2, Willis 11, Zizic 6, Clyburn 20, Beaubois 5, Jones 11, Hollatz, Ercan Osmani

Zalgiris: Evans 20, Giedraitis 3, Ulanovas 4, Hayes 13, Smits 16, Birutis 2, Manek 6, Dimsa 15, Butkevicius 3, Long, Lekavicius

1st Period: 13-14

Halftime: 38-26

3rd Period: 51-46

Regular time: 74-74

Fouled out: 38.54 Thompson (Anadolu Efes)

News Source: 12punto