BOLOGNA — Virtus Bologna extended their winning streak to four games with an 86-78 victory over Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz on Friday, 16 October at the Paladozza, holding off a late comeback to improve to 4-2 in the EuroLeague regular season.
Virtus started aggressively and raced to a 12-0 lead, finishing the first quarter ahead 24-12. They maintained control through the second and third quarters and took a 68-53 advantage into the final period after holding Baskonia to 19 points in the third. Marcus Carr led the hosts with 20 points, three assists and two steals, shooting 8-of-10 from the free-throw line for a performance index rating of 18, while Aliou Diarra added 16 points on 7-of-9 two-point shooting and Wendell Moore contributed 12 points.
Baskonia, playing their first game under returning head coach Velimir Perasovic following Paolo Galbiati's departure, refused to go quietly. The visitors erased a 17-point deficit and moved in front with two minutes remaining, putting Virtus at risk of surrendering their advantage. Turnovers then disrupted Baskonia's late push, while Virtus produced crucial baskets from long range to regain control and close out the eight-point win.
Baskonia finished with 19 turnovers compared with 18 for Virtus, and shot 10-of-33 from three-point range while Virtus made six of their 17 attempts from beyond the arc. Both sides collected 40 rebounds. Perasovic identified concentration and turnovers as key issues after his return to the bench, with the defeat leaving the Spanish club on a 1-5 record. Virtus will travel to face Hapoel Tel Aviv on Wednesday, while Baskonia will host Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens next Thursday.