AEK Athens pulled off a nail-biting 71-69 victory against Levice in Slovakia during the third round of the Basketball Champions League group stage. The game, filled with drama, went down to the wire, with a missed shot by Aatu Kivimaki denying Levice a late win.
Close Game Decided in Final Minute
The match was a tight affair throughout all four quarters. With just two minutes remaining, Levice managed to establish a 67-64 lead, putting pressure on the Greek side. However, AEK responded with a crucial 7-0 run, swinging the momentum back in their favour. Levice managed to reduce the deficit and had the final possession, but Kivimaki's three-point attempt fell short.
Key Performers
- Frank Bartley led AEK with an impressive 21 points.
- RaiQuan Gray contributed 16 points to the winning effort.
- Chris Silva recorded a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
For Levice, Ricky McGill played the entire 40 minutes, scoring 20 points and providing seven assists. Andre Wesson added 14 points, while Kivimaki finished with ten.
AEK Remains Unbeaten
With this victory, AEK maintains a perfect 3-0 record after three rounds of the competition. Levice, on the other hand, have one win and two losses. Looking ahead, Levice will host Szolnoki in the next round, while AEK will face Riga in Athens.
Before the game, AEK's head coach, Dragan Šakota, acknowledged that his team was considered favourites, stating, "We know that everyone consider us the favorites. We’re not saying we’re not. Obviously, we’re aware of our quality, but that’s something you have to prove on the court." He also cautioned against underestimating Levice, highlighting their strengths and the passionate home crowd.