Renfroe's Big Night Can't Beat Banvit

Banvit came through at the end to strengthen their grip on second place in Group F of the EuroChallenge with an 85-78 road win over VEF Riga.

The hosts wasted 36 points from Gregory Renfroe as they could not handle the more balanced offense of the visitors.

The game had been close throughout, but Banvit finally began to put some separation between themselves and the hosts at the start of the second quarter.

Lance Williams' lay-up put them ahead 43-42 and sparked a 13-0 run that took up most of the third quarter as Riga's offense deserted them.

However, the hosts finally came alive in the final moments of the quarter, getting the deficit back to three, 57-54, on Martins Laksa's three-pointer.

Arnas Labuckas then tied the scores with a three-pointer to open the final period, but Banvit responded with the next five points to re-establish a lead.

However, Riga would not go away, and Renfroe's lay-up with 5:41 to go put them ahead 67-66.
The teams continued to trade blows and Riga were back out in front, 77-76, after Renfroe's three-pointer with 1:43 to go.

Williams snatched back the lead with a lay-up and after a Ingus Bankevics turnover, Yunus Cankaya made it 80-77 from the charity stripe with 1:10 to go.

A rare miss from Renfroe gave Banvit the ball back and Baris Ernis added another point from the free-throw line.

Labuckas split a pair of free throws for Riga but Ernis nailed a lay-up and Cankaya and Baris Ozcan both hit free throws to ice it.

Williams led Banvit with 22 points, while Ozcan had 18 and Charles Davis 15.

Labuckas had 16 for Riga, while Bankevics added 10.

Quotes VEF Riga vs. Banvit BC

VEF Riga head coach Valdis Valters:
"The game was with observable swings - there were really good quarters followed with really bad ones. We lost some first-string-players, but fortunately we found other composition. I am glad that we had a good basketball tonight. Alex Renfroe had an amazing game.
"It was a strong opponent. I think that we played appropriately. It is a pity that we have lost chances to go further, but anyway we will do our best in our remained games.
"VEF has no experience in such a level games. We work with new players and we have to be patient. Those losses are in the name of future."

VEF Riga player Žanis Peiners (#13):
"We had some difficulties in defense, because of early foul trouble and that is how they got to the free throw line. We lacked confidence in the third quarter, when our leaders did not play their best game."

Banvit head coach Orhun Ene:
"We knew that we are going to have a tough game. We have really busy schedule and we planned to play with our reservists, but this plan did not work out. I am not satisfied with our defense, we have to work on it hard. But victory still is a victory."

Banvit player Keith Simmons (#13):
"We knew that our opponent is young and willing to fight and not willing to give the victory away at their home game. Everything was about some neutral balls which we won."