71-63 triumph over Fenerbahce

In the end, Bayern celebrated as deserved. Head coach Andrea Trinchieri's team turned their recent trend around with a hard-fought 71-63 (35-30) victory over Turkish top club Fenerbahce Istanbul and managed its fourth EuroLeague win. Top scorers for the Munich team (still without Radosevic, Sisko and Zipser) were the outstanding co-captain Vladimir Lucic with 22 points and guard Corey Walden with 16.

In front of 4,000 spectators in the Audi Dome, including a good 400 enthusiastic Fener fans, Bayern showed a highly concentrated starting quarter and led 25-12 (11th). Turnovers and superior rebouding ensured a tight game. Top scorer Lucic pulled ahead with seven points to 45-32 (26) - but Fenerbahce countered with a 12-0 run and equalized before crunch time (50-50/34). Both teams allowed little ball movement until the defensively strong FCBB threw off the shackles with an 8-0 run to bring it to 62-54 (37) and made the arena shake.

Coach Trinchieri, who has been battling a severe cold for the past week, had himself replaced at the media appointments after the intense duel, but is well.

In 45 hours, the next game will be against Greek champion Panathinaikos Athens (2-8) in their eleventh Euroleague game starting at the Audi Dome at 20:30.

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Points per quarter Bayern - Fenerbahce: 22-12, 13-18, 14-16, 22-17.

Stats: Two-point shooting: 56% (FCBB) // 56% (Fenerbahce); Three-point shooting: 33% // 15%; Free-throw shooting: 100% // 85%; Rebounds: 27 // 32; Assists: 14 // 13; Turnovers:  13 // 18

Quotes:   

Slaven Rimac, Co-Trainer FCBB: "Coach Trinchieri did an incredible job today on the sidelines and also in the past few days, even though he is sick; that's why he is to be excused in this moment. (...) We had a tough week with the losses in Monaco and Chemnitz. And we didn't have much time to prepare. But we pulled ourselves together and showed an unbelievable performance on defense, and that's how we managed to win the game in the end. Because their top scorer goes with two points and I would say only Guduric otherwise gave us problems in the first half. Our defense was very good and we also controlled their strong offensive rebounding; they had eleven, but in one action it was three or four right away, so we really controlled that part of the game."

Vladimir Lucic: "That was a tough game today. As you could see, they have a great team and good fan support here in Munich. Unfortunately, they have lost four games so far, so we expected a difficult game. For us, this is a very important win, especially after some recent defeats in the EuroLeague and the Cup. I think we showed a good mentality as a team and a lot of character to come back in this crazy schedule. I'm happy about the win. Our defense, helping each other and communication was much better. In the last games we had problems with the little things, we did a much better job today."

Nick Weiler-Babb: "That was very, very important! We really needed that to come back after the two bad games. It was a tough game on both sides. Istanbul played very well, but we countered and played a little harder. Lucic is our leader, who we look for when things get tough. In a game like this, he just steps it up a notch, and we expect the same from him. We can build on this game. We did good things, but we also did bad things. But after a win like this, we have to get going."

Game recap:

Corey Walden, Vladimir Lucic, Darrun Hilliard, Deshaun Thomas and Augustine Rubit were the starters for FCBB head coach Andrea Trinchieri. Two quick Rubit buckets got the Munich side off to a good start, but EuroLeague top dog Fenerbahce easily levelled the score at 4-4 (3rd minute of play). Despite minor uncertainties, the FCBB successfully stood up to their opponents, who also had three wins under their belt. Walden sank the first three-pointer of the game and Rubit converted his fourth basket with impressive confidence (15-10/7). This confidence was transferred to the team, which was now well in rhythm. A 12-2 run and only two turnovers resulted in a double-digit lead after the first quarter - 22-12.

Andreas Obst found his shot from beyond the three-point line (25-12/11.) but Trinchieri was sour in the face of two quick baskets by the Turks and asked for a timeout. After such a timeout, something countable usually happens, in this case a clean three-pointer by Weiler-Babb to make it 28-16 (12.).

Suddenly Fener turned the tide, Bayern wobbled. After a 10-2 run of the guests, the next Trinchieri meeting was due (31-26/15). Istanbul picked up the pace and played better ball and Bayern's lead was in danger (33-30/17). An exclamation mark dunk by Thomas amazed even the numerous Turkish fans in the round  and ex-Bayern coach Djordjevic now took the timeout (35-30/17). On offense, the FCBB played too statically, but at least they fought back at the back. For more than three minutes, there were almost no points scored before halftime, 35-30 Bayern lead.

After a total of five minutes without a basket, leader Lucic sank a three-pointer to make it 38-32 (23). He then enchanted the fans with ten points in a row and also led the way defensively - time-out Fenerbahce (45-32/26). Trinchieri breathed a sigh of relief, because Hilliard finally scored (47-34/27) but the coach was soon gripping his clipboard too tight because at this level almost every mistake is punished immediately: Istanbul came back to within one point via a 12-0 run (47-46/30). Lucic was fouled and easily converted both free throws to make it 49-46 after the third quarter.

All the fans were standing and cheering, but offensively there was little or nothing going on for the Munich team, and after 140 seconds in the final quarter Corey Walden converted all three free throws as a result of a foul on a three-pointer (52-47/33). After a few FCBB mistakes, the Turkish squad tied the game 52-52 (34). Rubit stepped in again after a long break and drilled two hige shots (59-54 (36). Defensively, the stops were successful and Walden was perfectly served up by Lucic for a three-pointer - time-out Fenerbahce (62-54/37). Istanbul's warhorse Jan Vesely held his own but Hunter answered twice (66-59/38).  After four missed free throws by the opponent, the pressure was fully on Fener, a situation that was tailor-made for Vladimir Lucic: As if it was a matter of course, he took off and hit a three-pointer 64 seconds before the end for a 69-63 lead. A loss of the ball created tension once again, but Bayern were defensively on their toes, and a Hunter dunk was the exclamation mark behind the all-important fourth win in the EuroLeague.

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(c) Stickel, Eirich, sampics