A wrong call, 2.7’’ before the end of the prorogation, decided the winner of the Aris – PAOK game at the Alexandreio Melthron for the 1st game of the Basket League.
The refs mistakenly called a foul against Apollon Tsochlas who was guarding Lefteris Mpohoridis at the time and Aris won 85-82 thanks to 1 free throw (from a total of 34, while PAOK had executed 13) and a bucket at the end by the player of Aris.
PAOK made a better start in the game and playing good defense was leading the score for most of the first quarter. Margaritis made two three-pointers and PAOK closed the first quarter leading by 2 (14-16).
Aris ran a partial 10-0 in the first half of the second quarter and led 28-20. PAOK could not find offensive solutions, contrary to Aris who would be finding score with Lefteris Mpohoridis, resulting in a +14 lead for the hosts (36-22), ending the first half with Aris leading 38-29.
PAOK made a very focused beginning in the third quarter on both ends of the floor, led by Adam Smith. The American player scored 10 points in the third quarter and PAOK was constantly trying to shrink the margin and “re-enter” the game. PAOK was chirping away at the difference margin and a bucket by Apollon Tsochlas at the end of the third quarter made the score 52-48.
PAOK came back into the game for good and tied the score 59-59 with a bucket by Sarikopoulos at 35’. Aris once again led with +8 (68-61), 2’03’’ before the end with a two-pointer by Vladimitr Dragisevic. PAOK replied with a 0-6 partial, that was completed with a very difficult two by Adam Smith with 18’’ on the clock. Martinas Gecevicius made two free throws (70-67), but Adam Smith tied the game 70-70 with an amazing three and sent the game to the extra time, after Milan Milosevic missed his final shot.
During extra time, that was delayed due to a problem with the score board, PAOK seemed to have control of the game, after leading 77-80 thanks to 5 points in a row by the exceptional Adam Smith. Aris ran a partial 5-0 and led 82-80 with 32’’ to go, but Vangelis Margaritis tied the score 82-82 with 25’’ to the end. During the last offense of the game, the refs decided the winner, after calling a non-existing foul by Apollon Tsochlas against Lefteris Mpohoridis and Aris’ guard shaped the final 85-82 score (1 free throw and a bucket at the end).
Τhe quarters: 14-16, 38-29, 52-48, 70-70 (παρ.), 85-82
Aris: Bohoridis 24 (2), Flionis, Milosevic 6 (1), Sakellariou, Talton 3 (1), Gecevicius 13 (2), Gagic 3, Slaftsakis 8 (1), Dragisevic 17, Morris 11 (1)
PΑΟΚ: Lewis 6, Smith 28 (4), Schizas, Κarras, Τsochlas 7 (1), Margaritis 17 (2), Best, Karamanolis, Wiggins 8, Egekeze, Sarikopoulos 8, Knowles 8
