PAOK’s three game winning streak for the Basketball Champions League was interrupted in Istanbul, since the team lost to Besiktas 98-83 for the 8th day of the 4th group and retreated to 3-5.
PAOK made a powerful start in the game and with a three by Aaron Best and a three point play by Stavros Schizas (bucket and one) got to lead 1-6. However, Basiktas regained control and with Shaquille McKissic consistently scoring, got to close the first quarter leading 25-18.
Besiktas continued controlling the game into the second quarter and exploiting PAOK’s weakness with rebounding, closed the first half with a double digit margin (51-41).
The third quarter was catastrophic for PAOK, since it began with Toddrick Gotcher scoring four back to back threes, which gave Besiktas a +22 lead (63-41), while just a little later on, the hosts were leading even by 24 (71-47), to close the third quarter with PAOK trailing 79-59.
In the fourth quarter, PAOK was better and succeeded in closing in with Antwaine Wiggins being the main facilitator for the offense. Our team got as close as to 9 points (92-83), but Besiktas got the 98-83 victory.
The quarters: 25-18, 51-41, 79-59, 98-83
Besiktas: Gotcher 12 (4), Gondur 5 (1), Akpinar 13 (2), McKissic 24 (6), Geyik 8, Yildizli 8 (2), Savas 7, Theodore 12 (1), Djurisic 9 (1)
PΑΟΚ: Lewis 9 (1), Smith 6 (1), Schizas 3, Τsochlas, Chatzinikolas, Μargaritis, Best 15 (4), Wiggins 25, Egekeze 8 (2), Sarikopoulos 6, Knowles 11
