There are no undefeated teams in the ENBL. The Bakken Bears erased 10 points deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Uniclub Casino Juventus, 95-87, on Friday, January 26, at the Utena arena in eastern Lithuania.
Players of the game
League`s best scorer DeAndre Pinckney was fouled out after a technical foul with 08:34 left to play but other Bears stepped up in a big way.
Ryan Evans scored six crucial points in the last seven minutes to finish the game with 12 points on 6/13 shooting from the field.
A former Wisconsin forward grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists, despite missing all four field goal attempts from the three point line.
Ryan Evans proudly represents Bakken Bears from 2018.
Darko Jukič led the winners with 17 points on 7/12 shooting from the court.
Point guard plays for the Aarhus team from 2017.
Jukič also scored six points during the Bears comeback.
He added five assists and two steals.
Gustav Knudsen was huge below and above the basket in the final three minutes.
Twenty years old center scored six of the last 11 points for the Bears.
Captain Skyler Bowlin posted eight points and six assists.
A former Missouri Southern State University star registered two steals.
Michel Diouf hit a crucial three pointer to finish the game with 14 points on 4/6 shooting from the three point line.
Last, but not least Noah Sorensen had 12 points.
Evaldas Saulys led Uniclub Casino Juventus with 15 points on 5/9 shooting from the field.
He went 3/6 from the three point line.
Šarūnas Beniušis scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half.
He played only three minutes after the halftime break.
Key stats
Bakken Bears led by as much as five points in the first half.
Uniclub Casino Juventus returned blows for a 46-48 lead at the halftime break.
Aarhus big men Pinckney and Diouf combined for 4/6 from the three point line in the first 20 minutes.
Juventus held Pinckney to three points in the second half until he was fouled out.
Shortly after that, the hosts led by 10 points, 66-76.
The Bears replied with a stellar 29-11 run.
Aarhus players scored from the field in six consecutive attacks to make it a single possession game, 78-81.
Bakken Bears defense and scoring ability was outstanding.
Aarhus scored more points off turnovers, 23-13, and on fast breaks, 15-13.
Bakken Bears starters outscored Juventus, 61-53.
Game notes
Bakken Bears improved to 5-1, while Uniclub Casino Juventus dropped to 6-1.
Anders Sommer and his men will win the Group A if they post one more win next month.
The Bears are 4-0 in the ENBL road games.
Aarhus win at Utena opened the playoff doors for the Bristol Flyers.
Uniclub Casino Juventus may finish in the first or the second place.
Tartu may finish in the third or the fourth place.
Bristol may finish in the third or the fourth place.
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream
Format
Four best teams from each group will qualify for the playoffs (A1-B4, A2-B3, A3-B2, A4-B1).
The 2024 playoffs – home and away, best-of-two series – will take place from February 15 until March 20.
The 2024 Final Four will take place on April 9-10.
Standings, as of January 26, 2024
Group A
Uniclub Casino Juventus 6-1 (+104) Qualified
Bakken Bears Aarhus 5-1 (+69) Qualified
Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits 4-3 (+22) Qualified
Bristol Flyers 4-3 (+62) Qualified
Polski Cukier Start Lublin 3-3 (-1)
Landstede Hammers Zwolle 1-3 (-44)
Svendborg Rabbits 1-6 (-156)
Spartak Pleven 1-5 (-56)
Group B
CSO Voluntari 5-1 (+67) Qualified
Royal Liège Basket 4-2 (+60)
Zastal Zielona Gora 4-1 (+25)
Šiauliai 4-1 (+39)
Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles 3-2 (+20)
Keila Coolbet 2-4 (-39)
Basket Brno 1-5 (-58)
Valmiera Glass ViA 0-7 (-114)
Tie-breaker 1: Zielona Gora vs Šiauliai 1-0, +26.
Tie-breaker 2: Šiauliai vs Newcastle 1-0, +2.
Tie-breaker 3: Šiauliai vs Voluntari 1-0, +8.
Tie-breaker 4: Liège vs Zielona Gora 1-0, +23.
Tie-breaker 5: Voluntari vs Liège 1-0, +21.