Strong second half gave Timisoara the win against Rilski

BC Timisoara achieved their third win of the season in the EUROHOLD Balkan League, defeating teh 2011 runner-up in the competition - BC Rilski Sportist by 11 points - 80:69 in Sala Constantin Jude in Timisoara. The win came after a strong second half, as the home team won the second 20 minutes by 16 - 45:29.
 
Branko Cuic made the first field goal of the night for 2:0, before Branko Mirkovic scored a three to take the lead for Rilski - 2:3. BC Timisoara responded with four straight points for 6:3, but after that it was Riletso who made a 4-0 run to make the score 6:7. Rilski was ahead 9:10 six minutes before the end of the first period, but Timisoara outscored them four to nothing in the following moments for a 13:10 lead halfway through the first period. The score was tied at 13:13 and at 15:15, before Timisoara managed to get a slight edge, leading 21:17 with 1.44 to go. After 10 minutes of play the score was 24:20 for the home side, as Sime Spralja had scored 12 points.
 
Dominique Archie scored in two straight offenses for Timisoara, while Stanislav Vaklinov and Hristo Zahariev had one basket each for Rilski, as the home side led 28:24 with 7.24 left on the clock. Filip Vukosavljevic and Zahariev scored to tie the score at 28:28, and Sirscevic and Vaklinov tied it at 30:30 after that. Rilski extended their run to 6-0 - 30:34 with around three minutes left. Halfway through the game Rilski Sportist held a 5-point lead - 35:40.
 
Rilski Sportist maintained their lead in the opening minutes of the second half. The Bulgarian side led by 5 - 38:43 with 7 minutes left to play. In the following moments Riletso managed to stay ahead of their opposition and they led 44:49 with a little less than 5 minutes to go, after a basket by Branko Mirkovic. Branko Cuic and Bogdan Popescu scored 4 consecutive points, cutting the deficit to 50:51, but Vukosavljevic made a basket for 50:53. Timisoara managed to break ahead with a slight advantage - 59:56, and after 30 minutes of play they led by 1 - 60:59.
 
BC Timisoara started the fourth period with an 11-4 run in the first four minutes of the quarter, and with six minutes left to play they led by 8 points - 71:63. Sime Spralja scored a three, extending his team′s lead to dougle digits - 74:63, before Branko Mirkovic made two free-throws for 74:65 with 4.05 remaining in the fourth. Timisoara quickly got back to their double digit lead, and were ahead 76:65 with 2.22 left. The final score was settled at 80:69 in favor of BC Timisoara.
 
Sime Spralja had a really strong game for the winning side with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot. Branko Cuic added 21 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists, while Dominique Archie finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds. Ivan Siriscevic added 11 points coming off the bench.
 
Branko Mirkovic was the top scorer for Rilski Sportist - 16 points along with 3 rebounds and 3 assits. Martin Marinov came off the bench scoring 13 points, while Filip Vukosavljevic had 10 points and 7 rebounds.
 
Rilski Sportist remained on second position despite their loss, as their balance is 4-3, and they also have one game more than KK Mornar, who are visiting Galil Gilboa tomorrow night. BC Timisoara moved up to the fourth spot with 3-4.