Points race in Vilnius – American frenzy “Peristeri” and defeat “Morning” / News

Steven Gray hit 10 3-pointers, scored 39 points and led Peristeri Athens (1-0), which became an impossible puzzle for the Vilnius Morning team (0-1). In the first game of the FIBA ​​Champions League, Vilnius landed for the Greeks 88: 106 (22:27, 29:24, 20:29, 17:26).

The 196 cm tall gray scored 10 3-pointers of 13, hitting 6 long shots of 7 in the second half of the game. He scored his last three-point shot at the end of the game and fell into the arms of his teammates after the final siren.

Gray also had 7 assists, took 5 and bounced 3 balls, and scored 47 utility points. This figure is a Champions League record.

Only Jimmy Baron, who realized so much in 2016 in the Champions League, had hit 10 3-pointers before. representing Klaipeda “Neptune”.

Rytas played two halves in an attacking match. Mindaugas Girdžiūnas made all 5 triples in the first half of the match and scored 15 points, Chris McCullough added 13 points and the result in the middle of the match was 51:51.

In the third quarter, after Andrew Goudelock’s long pitch, the result was still the same (61:61), but two consecutive long shots by Peristeri ignited the Greek jet 10: 0, after which the guests gained a double-digit lead. for the first time.

From that moment on, “Morning” assumed the role of pursuer.

In the fourth quarter, the Vilnius team came close to 77:82, but then Gray scored two 3-pointers in just over a minute and the guests could breathe easier again: 90:81. After Gray’s ninth three-point Peristeri, the lead was no longer in doubt: 98:86.

Peristeri scored more than half of all points at three points (18/30, 60%). They also attacked the colon with excellent accuracy: 19/31 (61 percent).

Rytas made 14 long shots of 30 (47%).

“Tomorrow”: Chris McCullough 22 (ninth rev., 4/4 trit.), Mindaugas Girdžiūnas 15 (5/6 trit.), Demetrius Jackson 14 (sixth rev.), Andrew Goudelock 13 (2/7 dvit., 2 / 5 trit.).

“Peristeri”: Stevenas Gray 39 (10/13 trit.), Tre McLeanas 19, Marvinas Jonesas 14, Panagiotis Vasilopoulos 13, Terranas Petteway 11.

Chris McCullough’s comment:

It was Rytas’ debut match in the Champions League. Since the 2003-2004 season, the club has always played only in the European Cup or the Euroleague.

Martynas Echodas and team newcomer Maurice Ndour did not help Rytas in this match.

Group E also includes Riga VEF and Strasbourg IG. The top two teams in the group will enter the playoffs.