The seven-game away series in the EuroLeague is behind Bayern Basketball, but the string of failures is not: Against title contender AS Monaco, coach Gordon Herbert’s team lost 77–103 (39–47) on Friday night. After halftime, the athletically dominant favorites were simply unstoppable. The sixth win of the season also eluded them on Matchday 17. Da Silva scored 13 points in the sparsely filled Salle Gaston Medecin.
Bayern now travel on to Cologne, where around 18,000 fans are expected for the BBL clash (6 pm/Dyn) against Telekom Baskets Bonn on Sunday.
AS Monaco Basket - FC Bayern Basketball 103:77 (47:39)
- FCBB:Oscar da Silva (13 points), Stefan Jovic (11), Spencer Dinwiddie (10), David McCormack (9), Andreas Obst (9), Isiaha Mike (8), Vladimir Lucic (8), Xavier Rathan-Mayes (4), Justus Hollatz (3), Niels Giffey (2), Johannes Voigtmann, Wenyen Gabriel.
- Top scorer Monaco:Elie Okobo (18 points)
- RefereeEmilio Perez, Gytis Vilius, Dragan Porobic
- Attendancetbc.
McCormack starts
With an 11–2 start, Bayern initially showed no signs of being affected by the frustration of recent weeks. McCormack brought power to the starting five, Jovic scored, and Lucic confirmed—thanks to two three-pointers for a 17–8 lead—that his badly injured left eye still allowed him to see (8th minute).
Monaco, however, massively intensified their defense and finished the quarter with a 10–0 run, helped by their advantage on the boards.
Collapse in the third quarter
Just two minutes later, it was 19–28, as Bayern’s own defense and Monaco’s athletic guards turned the tide. The starting five with da Silva and Lucic returned, but the Monegasques continued to get their shots until halftime (68% two-point shooting).
Monaco also dominated the boards in the second half (41–25), and not only superstar James (14 points) got to the free-throw line (52–80/29th minute). Bayern conceded 35 points in the third quarter. FCBB kept fighting and encouraged each other, but Monaco played with focus and showcased their enormous quality.
Quotes:
Gordon Herbert, head coach FC Bayern Basketball: “We played a good first seven minutes, after that they dominated us for 33 minutes. Their physicality and their ability to make shots really hurt us.”
UPCOMING FCBB GAMES:
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Sun., December 21, 6 pm: 11th easyCredit BBL matchday, Telekom Baskets Bonn – FCBB (Dyn)
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Tue., December 23, 7:30 pm: 18th EL matchday, FCBB – Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv (SAP Garden)
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Fri., December 26, 8 pm: 12th easyCredit BBL matchday, Skyliners Frankfurt – FCBB (Dyn)
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Sun., December 28, 6 pm: 13th easyCredit BBL matchday, FCBB – VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier (SAP Garden)
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Wed., December 31, 2 pm: 14th easyCredit BBL matchday, Rostock Seawolves – FCBB (Dyn)