Which kind of road complex are we talking about exactly? Olimpia won in Piraeus, conquering the first road win in the Top 16, goes up 6-3 in the group, takes a two-win lead over the two-time defending champions (without Vassilis Spanoulis) and is 2-0 in the head-to-head. Memorable game for EA7, who takes the first big punch in the first quarter, gets back, overcomes a lot of foul troubles, takes a 10-point lead, goes down but in the crucial moment finds the David Moss’ three, a mid-range jumper by Hackett, a spectacular face-up three by Langford. But a lot of players helped, Wallace in the beginning, a spectacular Gani Lawal against Dunston, Cerella at the start of the second quarter. In the end it’s 88-86.
THE FIRST HALF – Olympiacos starts on fire, executes well offensively involving Dunston’s low post play and riding a 13-point first period by Perperoglou and also 10 fouls drawn and 14 trips to the line producing 12 points. Olimpia, starting 0-10, is staying in the game thanks to the 8 quick points scored by CJ Wallace – who has three fouls in the process – and a terrific spurts by Keith Langford. He makes two threes, dish an assist to Lawal, makes a steal on a inbound play and completes a 3-point play. He scores nine points in the quarter and the 29-23 Olympiacos lead is surprising given the circumstances. At the beginning in the second, Bruno Cerella completes a 3-point play off an offensive rebound, then makes a steal leading to a Jerrells’ three-pointer tying up the score at 31. The game is staying close the rest of the half. When Olympiacos re-takes a 3-point lead, Moss makes a three. The first lead is out of a Kangur’s three from the corner. A few seconds later, Hackett makes a free throw and a three pushing the lead to three points. The last basket in the half is another Jerrells’ three good for a 50-47 lead in spite of the 24 fouls shots (20 of them converted) by Olympiacos, who has 9 points by Printezis to go along Perperoglou’s 15.
THE SECOND HALF – A 5-0 Olympiacos run change the lead to start the half, the foul problems are getting bigger by the second because of the third called to Gentile and the third and the fourt (offensive) called on Hackett. Then there’s also a technical to the bench. But EA7 is still up because of a Hackett’s three, before getting out, and a Samuels’ free throw. Then there’s the fourth foul on Gentile too and after a couple of confusing possessions, Sloukas scores from mid-range, dishes an assist to Shermadini and Olympiacos goes up 61-58. Coach Banchi calls a time-out with 2’34” remaining in the third. The answer is a 4-0 run generated by a dunk off an offensive board by Melli and a long jumper by Langford. Jerrells from three pushes the lead up to 4, 65-61. Shermadini makes two foul shots and the third period is 65-63 Olimpia. The fourth quarter starts with a Langford’s trick basket: Keith doesn’t commplete the three-point play but Gani Lawal grabs the rebounds and dunks, Kangur scores off a dribble and extends the lead suddenly at 8, 71-63 but still 9 minutes to play. The biggest lead is 10 points after a 2/2 by Lawal. Olympiacos responds with a 6-0 run but Lawal makes two more from the line and then makes a jumper for the 77-71 lead, Olympiacos doesn’t flinch. Dunston makes two free throws, then he blcoks an Hackett drive and off the ensuing transition Lojeski makes a three and it’s a one-point game with 3’10” to play. Moss makes a three, Lojaski does the same, Perperoglou surpasses, Hackett responds again. With 59 seconds left Moss is fouling out far away from the ball but Dunston this time misses both. Langford makes the huge three extending the lead at four. And from the line the win is preserved.