Aris take one step closer to Champions League progress
 

BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - QUALIFICATION

Aris hold a slim aggregate lead in their Basketball Champions League second qualifying round tie with Nizhny Novgorod after a 65-63 win in Russia on Tuesday night…

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Aris held off a late pushback from Nizhny Novgorod to claim a slim 65-63 advantage in their Basketball Champions League second qualifying round tie on Tuesday night.

The Thessaloniki outfit let an 11-point lead slip in the fourth quarter but ultimately held on for slim win that could prove to be definitive when the two sides meet for the second leg of the tie at Alexandreio on Friday.

Gary Bell Jr. led all Aris scorers with 17 points as the American guard finished finished as Aris’ only double-digit scorer, while new signing Gary McGhee finished with a near double-double with 8 points and 11 rebounds.

Nizhny Novgorod’s Kendrick Perry led all scorers on the night with a 24-point effort while teammate Roderick Odom contributed with a 16-point effort as the home side rallied from a 33-22 halftime deficit.

After keeping the Russians in check for most of the evening, Aris finally succumbed to the pressure from the home side’s offense in the fourth quarter as Nizhny Novgorod made the second leg more meaningful with a 23-14 run in the final frame.

With a tight two-point lead in tow, Aris will look to shore-up a spot in the third qualifying round and a meeting with JIP Pardubice when the Autokratoras host Nizhny Novgorod in Thessaloniki on Friday.

by Peter Katsiris

Image Source: sportfm.gr

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