Elan Bearnais Pau-Orthez pleased its fans with a final home win in the 2007-08 ULEB Cup season by edging ASK Riga 68-66 at home on Tuesday. Pau-orthez improved to 2-7 and broke its six-game losing streak but has no chance to make it to the next round. Meanwhile, ASK dropped to 3-6 but has a slim chance to qualify as one of the best five fourth-ranked if it beats Benetton Tamoil next week and the Artland Dragons, fourth at 4-5, lose against BC Kyiv. Maxiliano Stanic paced the winners with 15 points on 4-for-4 three-pointers and 7 assists while Jeleel Akindele posted a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds for Pau. Dwayne Broyles and A.J. Bramlett led ASK each with 19 points. Bramlett added 14 rebounds for a double-double. Curtis Millage and Dairis Bertrans each had 10 points for the guests, who trailed 39-26 early in the third quarter. Broyles singlehandedly brought ASK back to life, 39-35, with Bramlett tied the game at 45-45. Broyles allowed the guests to complete its 13-point comeback, 58-59, and the game turned into a thriller from now on. Millage hit a triple to give ASK its last lead, 63-65. Akinlele had 4 critical points while a free throw by Stanic fixed the final score.
Raitis Grafs scored inside while Broyles buried one from downtown to give ASK an early 2-5 lead. It didn't last long, however, as Akinlele, Jeff Trepagnier and Stanic combined for all points in a 10-0 Pau run for a 12-5 score. Antywane Robinson and Stanic stroke from downtown to boost the hosts' lead to 19-9. Bramlett tried to change things for ASK but Antonio Graves and Mendy allowed Pau to keep a 24-13 margin after 10 minutes. Broyles stepped up with consecutive baskets to give the guests some hope at 26-17 early in the second quarter. Trepagnier sank a three-pointer and soon added another basket, but Broyles was now on fire. He got some help from Bramlett to bring ASK back in the game, 31-26, late in the first half. Back-to-back baskets by Akinlele and Robinson ignited a 6-0 run that Stanic capped with a final layup for a 37-26 Pay edge at the break. Graves scored for Pau early in the third quarter but ASK was a different team now. Bertrans and Grafs stepped up with consecutive baskets in a 0-8 run that brought the guests back to life, 39-35. Broyles stayed unstoppable while Ernests Kalve and Bramlett helped ASK to tie the game, 45-45. Thierry Rupert and Ludovic Vaty allowed Pau to regain the lead, 51-50, after 30 minutes. Cedric Ferchaud and Stanic kept Pau ahead, 58-57, early in the fourth quarter, but consecutive baskets by Bramlett and Broyles completed the guests' comeback, 58-59. Akinlele and a three-pointer by Stanic made Pau regain the lead, 63-62, with 4 minutes to go. Millage answered from downtown but Akinlele followed free throws with a key basket for a 67-65 score. Millage and Stanic traded free throws, while once again Millage missed a potential game-winning three-point shot in the final seconds.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
ULEBCup.com
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