Wallace Leads Mons-Hainaut To Victory

Jonathan Wallace sparked Mons-Hainaut with 21 points and six assists

Mons-Hainaut signed off from Group E in the EuroChallenge with a 3-3 record as they cruised to a 92-63 win over BCMU Pitesti.

In a contest between two teams already eliminated from contention for a place in the Last 16, Jonathan Wallace led Mons-Hainaut to victory with 21 points while dishing out six assists.

Pitesti contested the game for most of the first quarter, briefly enjoying a 13-8 lead, but after Mons-Hainaut scored the final seven points of the period to go up 25-19 on Guy Muya's lay-up, they just kept on going with Wallace starting the second period with a three-pointer and Amaury Gorgemans throwing home a dunk.

Brian Qvale's dunk midway through the second period extended the lead to 41-23 and although Pitesti briefly rallied, Wallace's lay-up had made it 45-30 before half-time.

Mons-Hainaut only continued to pull away in the second half, taking their biggest lead when Loic Schwartz's dunk made it 89-58 with 2:13 left in the contest.

Monwell Randle added 14 points for Mons-Hainaut while Qvale had 12 and Gorgemanns 10.

Damien Kinloch led Pitesti with 14 points while Pankracije Barac added 13 and Marcel Jones 12.

Quotes Mons-Hainaut vs. BCMU Pitesti

Mons-Hainaut head coach Yves Defraigne:
"First, I have to say that we lost twice at home, and the success against Pitesti proves we had our place for the second round! Unfortunately, despite the fact we took this game seriously, it was not sufficient to qualify. In the first game against Okapi Aalstar we led during almost all the match, but in the last minutes, we made a lot of mistakes, and lost a great part of our chances to reach the next round. I'm disappointed, but basketball is a sport like any other, and the die is cast."

Mons-Hainaut player Amaury Gorgemans:
"We played a very good game, and it's a positive fact for the future in the Belgian Championship. We began the game very slowly, but after that we were able to increase the level, and when the gap was grooved, we continued to be aggressive. As far as I'm concerned, to play more than twenty minutes gives me experience against teams which are strong, and I think I'm on the way to becoming an important player in a team with a coach who has trust in the young players."

Pitesti head coach Tudor Costescu:
"We played a very poor game, and my players were unable to make what I asked them to do before the match began. We were short of aggressiveness, execution, and also attitude against a team which was eliminated, but wanted to prove it deserved its place in the second round. We missed many shots which seemed easy, and as far as turnovers are concerned, I don't want to speak about it. Of course, it was our first experience in the EuroChallenge, and I hope we'll be back on the European stage to improve our game."

Pitesti player Pankracije Barac:
"We came here to do our best as we did last week against Aalstar, but despite the deficit of fifteen points at half-time, I think everything was possible. But we played against a team which was very aggressive in defense, and we made many mistakes and we were dominated in the fight for rebounds."

Quotes Mons-Hainaut vs. BCMU Pitesti

Mons-Hainaut head coach Yves Defraigne:
"First, I have to say that we lost twice at home, and the success against Pitesti proves we had our place for the second round! Unfortunately, despite the fact we took this game seriously, it was not sufficient to qualify. In the first game against Okapi Aalstar we led during almost all the match, but in the last minutes, we made a lot of mistakes, and lost a great part of our chances to reach the next round. I'm disappointed, but basketball is a sport like any other, and the die is cast."

Mons-Hainaut player Amaury Gorgemans:
"We played a very good game, and it's a positive fact for the future in the Belgian Championship. We began the game very slowly, but after that we were able to increase the level, and when the gap was grooved, we continued to be aggressive. As far as I'm concerned, to play more than twenty minutes gives me experience against teams which are strong, and I think I'm on the way to becoming an important player in a team with a coach who has trust in the young players."

Pitesti head coach Tudor Costescu:
"We played a very poor game, and my players were unable to make what I asked them to do before the match began. We were short of aggressiveness, execution, and also attitude against a team which was eliminated, but wanted to prove it deserved its place in the second round. We missed many shots which seemed easy, and as far as turnovers are concerned, I don't want to speak about it. Of course, it was our first experience in the EuroChallenge, and I hope we'll be back on the European stage to improve our game."

Pitesti player Pankracije Barac:
"We came here to do our best as we did last week against Aalstar, but despite the deficit of fifteen points at half-time, I think everything was possible. But we played against a team which was very aggressive in defense, and we made many mistakes and we were dominated in the fight for rebounds."