Göttingen Go Out Battling Against Armia

Jeremy Richardson lead Armia with23 points past battling Violets in Göttingen

Jeremy Richardson hit five shots from long range and poured in a game-high 23 points as Armia prevailed 69-61 at BG Göttingen in EuroChallenge Group B action on Tuesday night.

The Georgian outfit won for the third time in four games while the Violets' faint hopes of advancing to the Last 16 were extinguished.

Armia host Besiktas (4-0) next week and will seal a place in the next phase of the competition with a victory.

A loss could leave them needing a win in their Group B finale against ZZ Leiden, who are 1-3 after Tuesday's loss at Besiktas.

Against the Violets, the club that won the EuroChallenge in 2010, Armia broke open a close game midway through the second quarter.

On top 28-24, Will Thomas made a lay-up on a fast-break to ignite an 11-1 run that Sundiata Gaines capped with a three-pointer.

Richardson buried a three-pointer at the end of the half for a 44-29 lead.

The American had nine points at the break while Joakim Kjellbom scored 11 in the first half and Thomas eight.

The German club trailed by 20 in the second half but fought until the end and twice closed the gap to five in the last two minutes.

Armia held on for the victory.

Thomas scored 12 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Kjellbom had 11 points and 10 boards.

Sean Evans and Kwadzo Ahelegbe scored 12 points apiece for Göttingen.

Quotes BG Göttingen vs. Armia

Armia head coach Kote Tugushi:
"I am really glad that we won this important game. We did a really good job on defense just letting Göttingen score 61 points at home against us. We had some problems on offense and too many turnovers, but had the decisive plays in our defense!"

Armia guard/forward Jeremy Richardson:
"This was a huge win for us. We won this game, because we played as a team and worked really hard on defense. Göttingen is a great team. They are much better than their record is."

BG Göttingen head coach Stefan Mienack:
"I am proud that my team did not give up and had the energy to close the game in the end. But we need to play with this high intensity for more than just 20 minutes. We need to get more consistency into our game and will go on working hard to achieve this goal."

Göttingen small forward Max Weber:
"This loss is another annoying loss to me, because it is always because of the same reasons. We were not able to make the important plays tonight and again had a lack of focus and concentration in some situations. We need to get things changed and have to work hard for this."