Baskonia Vitoria – FC Barcelona Lassa: Narrow defeat in Vitoria (65-62)

FC Barcelona Lassa suffered another narrow defeat away in Vitoria. Despite a good start from the blaugranes, home side Baskonia turned the game around in the third quarter to defeat the visitors who were without the injured Perperoglou and Brad Oleson. Barça’s record in the EuroLeague now reads five wins and eight defeats.

Ahead early on

Georgios Bartzokas’ team came out switched on in the Buesa Arena and in the blink of an eye they were 0-9 up. Solid on offence and defence, the visitors maintained their lead during the first quarter which ended 9-14 in favour of Barça Lassa.

Baskonia took four and a half minutes to score their first basket and they were always playing catch up in the first half. A Dorsey slam dunk gave the blaugranes a ten point lead at one point and they went in at half time 24-30 up.

Kopenen, Tomic and Rice

The third quarter began with Koponen landing a series of three pointers. However, Barça’s lead was slowly hauled back by the home side – suddenly 32-41 became 43-42 to see Baskonia ahead for the first time in the game.

Tomic, always consistent, and Rice kept Bartzokas’ side in the game in the final quarter and with just 90 seconds to go it was level at 60-60. However, a three pointer from Larkin and the steady hand of Beaubois guided the Basque side to victory right at the death.