Uniclub Casino Juventus showed another masterclass in offense and defeated high scoring Svendborg Rabbits, 110-92, on Wednesday, December 20, at the Utenos arena in northeast Lithuania.
Players of the game
Evaldas Saulys led all scorers with 26 points on 9/12 shooting from the field and a perfect 3/3 from the charity stripe.
Guard/forward added six rebounds and three assists...in a little less than 19 minutes.
Šarūnas Beniušis posted 21 points on 9/13 shooting from the field and a perfect 3/3 from the free throw line.
Power forward grabbed 10 rebounds and registered a highest +/- ratio 26.
Billy Ivey (15), Dayshon “Scoochie” Smith (12), Ryan Taylor (12) and Žygimantas Skučas (10) also finished in double figures.
Jaedon Willis had 24 points for the Svendborg Rabbits, including a 4/10 effort from the three point line and a perfect 6/6 from the charity stripe.
Notre Dame College guard contributed with six assists and two steals.
Dylan Van Eyck (Iona 2022) and Hameir Wright (University of North Texas 2022) scored 17 points each.
Key stats
It turned to be the third highest scoring game – second in regulation – in the ENBL history as the teams combined for 202 points.
Both team scored at least 20 points in every quarter.
Juventus outscored Rabbits in the second and third quarter, 62-45, for a 84-69 lead.
Utena team shot 50% from the field, 41/82, including 55% effort inside the three point line, 32/58.
Svendborg Rabbits made 44% from the court, 30/68.
Uniclub Casino Juventus outrebounded the visiting team, 51-27, especially on the offensive glass, 21-7.
Both teams excelled from the free throw line, 19/22 vs 21/23.
Utena scored more second chance points, 17-7, and more points on fast breaks, 16-7.
Highest scoring game | ENBL records
211 points, Šiauliai 104-107 Brno, 83-83 double OT (December 28, 2021)
206 points, Zielona Gora 106-100 Valmiera (October 31, 2023)
202 points, Utena 110-92 Svendborg (December 20, 2023)
192 points, Trefl Sopot 92-100 Ironi Ness Ziona (December 1, 2022)
192 points, Zielona Gora 109-83 Šiauliai (September 27, 2023)
192 points, Start Lublin 85-107 Bristol (November 21, 2023)
Game notes
Uniclub Casino Juventus improved to 4-0, while the Svendborg Rabbits dropped to 0-4.
Oliver Kostič`s men occupy the first place in the Group A – with a perfect record.
Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits are undefeated, too, with three wins and three games.
Bakken Bears Aarhus have a 2-0 record.
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 1 until March 20.
The 2024 Final Four will take place on April 9-10.
Standings, as of December 20, 2023
Group A
Uniclub Casino Juventus 4-0 (+59)
Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits 3-0 (+38)
Bristol Flyers 3-2 (+43)
Bakken Bears Aarhus 2-0 (+41)
Polski Cukier Start Lublin 1-2 (-12)
Landstede Hammers Zwolle 1-2 (-16)
Spartak Pleven 0-4 (-56)
Svendborg Rabbits 0-4 (-97)
Group B
CSO Voluntari 4-1 (+53)
Royal Liège Basket 3-1 (+35)
Zastal Zielona Gora 3-1 (+21)
Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles 2-2 (+12)
Keila Coolbet 2-2 (-7)
Šiauliai 2-1 (-16)
Basket Brno 0-4 (-41)
Valmiera Glass ViA 0-4 (-57)
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.