Besiktas Continue Winning Streak

Besiktas remained unbeaten in the EuroChallenge with a 78-70 home win over BK Pardubice in Group K on Tuesday.

Making a commitment to getting the ball inside to their big men, Besiktas' game-plan worked with Ersin Dagli particularly effective.

The 2.01m center hardly put a foot wrong, making nine of his 10 shots around the basket and scoring a game-high 22 points.

Dagli was so effective that coach Ergin Ataman played Pops Mensah-Bonsu just 13 minutes.

Carlos Arroyo made his EuroChallenge bow with Besiktas and had 17 points, four assists and five boards.

Besiktas did not have it all their own way against a determined Pardubice side that had to win its last two games in the Regular Season to reach this stage of the competition.

Jan Slowiak's side trailed by as many as 13 midway through the second quarter but continued to fight and closed the gap to six before going to half-time trailing, 44-37.

Dagli had 14 points at the break to lead all scorers.

Pardubice came out all guns blazing at the start of the third quarter with a Maurice Hampton three-ball, a Corey Muirhead jumper and Petr Bohacik shot from the arc putting them in front at 47-46.

The high-flying Muirhead (17pts, 8rbs) then caught an alley-oop pass from Hampton and scored to push the advantage to 51-48 with 3:59 to play in the quarter to cause some unease in the Besiktas arena.

The hosts went back in front after baskets from Zoran Erceg (13 points) and Arroyo, but Bohacik knifed his way into the lane, caught a pass by Michal Carnecký and dunked with authority to knot the game at 53-53.

Dagli answered with a dunk and David Hawkins scored the next four points as Besiktas finished the quarter on a 6-0 run for a 59-53 lead.

Ataman's team again stretched their advantage to 13 but didn't slam the door shut.

A pair of Bohacik free-throws, which took his points haul to 20, reduced the arrears to 74-69 with 2:26 to play and Pardubice had an opportunity to get even closer but Hampton missed from long range.

Dagli followed with a lay-up to extend the lead to 76-69.

With Pardubice attempting to keep the score close in the final minute, Bohacik was hurt while diving for a loose ball and had to leave the contest.

Besiktas got a lay-up from Arroyo in the final seconds to seal an eight-point win.

Marcus Arnold had a game-high 11 rebounds to go with his seven points for Pardubice.

Quotes Besiktas Milangaz vs. BK Pardubice

Pardubice player, Corey Muirhead:
"We started very bad but we made a comeback. İn the last period they showed their experience. We missed our open shots. We were not lucky."

Pardubice coach Jan Slowiak:
"We didn't make a good start to the game. The third period was very important. İ congragulate  my players for playing hard."

Beşiktaş Milangaz, player Ersin Dağlı:
"We were good in the first period. They somehow came back but they could not answer our last move."

Beşiktaş Milangaz coach Ergin Ataman:
"We started well but in the third period we couldn't attack properly. We won a very hard game. We continue our way without a loss. I am not happy with our game but I am happy for the win."