EuroView: Motum bags 20 as Dillon dishes up a double

Brock Motum and Daniel Dillon put up some big numbers for their respective teams this week and over in the LEB Gold it was the clash of two former college standouts.

Brock Motum was the star for the Aussies in Europe this week, scoring 20 points and adding 5 rebounds as BC Zalgiris Kaunas lost just their third game of the year in Lithuania. Fifth-ranked Juventus pulled off a big upset with the 84-86 win over the defending league champions. Both teams executed their set plays well, but just couldn't finish each play with a basket. However, what was most impressive was how Juventus played when the game was on the line against the powerhouse that is Zalgiris.

Zalgiris have been very good for so long now that it almost appears they have won part of the game before even stepping on the court, their presence and intimidation is that great. Equally as impressive as Juventus, was Motum's inside and outside game, finishing 4/5 from the field and 4/9 on three-pointers. It was good to see Motum get so many chances from long-range and it looked to be a clear result of the game plan -a step in the right direction-. Zalgiris have built such a big lead over the competition that they are still 10 wins ahead of third-ranked Neptunas despite the loss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-etIsI4KDdw

Daniel Dillon and PGE Turow thrived in the up and down contest with MKS Dabrowa Gornicza in the Polish League. Dillon put up a double-double with 17 points (5/11 FG), 10 assists, 3 rebounds and 4 turnovers in the 85-92 victory. The game was an intense battle with very little separating the two sides heading into the final quarter. But, a 23-32 quarter secured victory for Turow, coming on the back of strong rebounding and an attacking style of play. Turow won the game at the line, scoring 29-31 at the charity stripe and controlling the tempo of the game. The win moves Turow up to 9th and one game short of a .500 record (11-12).

Also in Poland, swingman Cameron Gliddon lived outside the arc in AZS Koszalin's 79-85 loss to Rosa Radom. Gliddon attempted 12 field goals, shooting 4/11 from three-point range and scoring 12 points, 7 rebounds and 1 assist in 29 minutes. Koszalin were showing a clear intent to shoot the three but failed to be really effective, hitting just 10/36 for the game. However, it still was a solid performance for the overmatched Koszalin, remaining in the contest against a quality Rosa outfit. Gliddon's Koszalin sit one loss behind Daniel Dillon's PGE Turow with an 11-12 record.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1MofZUNyqY

Ater Majok had a good offensive game for Trefl Sopot in their 92-81 loss to Siarka in Poland. Majok had 14 points (5/8 FG), 4 rebounds and committed 5 personal fouls in 26 minutes. Unlike Majok, the rest of Trefl Sopot couldn't find their range inside the paint, shooting just 18/45 on 2PT attempts compared to 25/35 for Siarka. Trefl Sopot's defense just really didn't do enough and allowed too many easy looks. Trefl Sopot have fallen to sixteenth on the back of the loss, with just five wins for the season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjEwRyLkDVY

Former college standouts Mitch McCarron and Dan Trist faced off in the LEB Gold this week and it was former Metropolitan State star McCarron who came away with the win. Not only did McCarron's Palencia defeat Oviedo 97-74, but McCarron had one of his better games this season with 11 points (5/7 FG), 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 assist. While Trist also scored in double digits with 12 points, 3 rebounds and 2 turnovers in 22 minutes. McCarron started the game for the league-leaders and was highly-effective, playing well enough to earn himself 26 minutes for the night. His rebounding was also of great influence and ensured Palencia lead the rebounding 33-24. Oviedo would have liked to put up a better fight given they have also had a very solid season, but the juggernaut of Palencia rolls on in the LEB Gold.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QWHnJ0QGlU

Ben Madgen scored 19 points (6 rebounds, 1 assist) as second-ranked Spirou easily dispatched VOO-Verviers Pepinster 98-76 in Belgium's Scooore League. Spirou had the game under control from the start, highlighted by a clinical third quarter in which they held Verviers-Pepinster to just 8 points while scoring 28 themselves. Madgen was again a focal point for the Wolves, shooting 6/13 from the field and 6/7 at the charity stripe. Since moving to Belgium, Madgen has exploited the weak interior defense in the Belgian league and had a significant impact at the line. The same could be said of the Wolves as a whole in this game (18/23 FT), but they were just 6/15 from three-point range and recorded only 6 assists. Verviers-Pepinster remains in 9th position on the league table with a 6-13 record.

Over in the French Pro A league David Andersen's ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne recorded a resounding 79-57 victory over Orleans. The win was never in doubt and ASVEL played some quality basketball, as they have done for stretches of the season. Though they recorded equally as many assists as turnovers (14) they did play an exciting brand of basketball and as shown by their results, it is a style that can win. They didn't play their best game on the offensive end, but their defense was impressive and shows they are heading in the right direction. Andersen played just 17 minutes for 9 points (4/9 FG), 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 turnovers. It was a very important win, that keeps them in the race for the top spot in a very congested top of the table battle. Their second consecutive win sees them regain some earlier form and move into equal 5th with 14 wins.

Chris Goulding started for Auxilium Torino in their 90-94 loss to Italian Serie A league leaders Emporio Armani Milan. Torino had their chances, taking 17 more shots than their more highly fancied opponents. However Milan were a well-oiled machine, converting on 22/26 shots from the field and an impressive 26/37 from the charity in their narrow win. Goulding managed to score 4 points (0/4 3PT) with 2 assists and 4 steals in playing 26 minutes. It was a great performance by the lowly ranked Torino, however despite admirable showing, Goulding's side remains in outright last place with an 6-16 record.

Ryan Broekhoff didn't have much of an impact for Lokomotiv Kuban in a vital 94-81 win over top-four opponent Khimky in the VTB United League. Lokomotiv got out to an 8-point lead after the first quarter with some high calibre basketball, holding that lead until the final quarter when they extended it to 13-points. Lokomotiv took great care of the ball, with 20 assists and just 6 turnovers the key to victory. Although, Broekhoff failed to fire on offence while the rest of Lokomotiv played very well, scoring 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 turnover. The win moves Lokomotiv into third on the ladder with 17 wins.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drynd6LD9Fk

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica secured a 78-68 win over Cibona with Boomers big man Aleks Maric scoring 14 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks in just 21 minutes. Maric was 6/7 from the field and went about his business in a very efficient manner. Buducnost did what they needed to record the win and looked very good in patches and average at other times. It was Buducnost's 23rd win of the season and keeps them three wins ahead of second-ranked Crvena Zvezda in the Adriatic League.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o7fl9vqp3M

Brad Newley scored just 2 points in Herbalife Gran Canaria's 10-point loss to Real Madrid. Newley was ice cold, shooting 0/8 from the field and 0/4 from behind the arc in what was a game to forget for the Boomers veteran. In Newley's 19 minutes his only other contributions on the stats sheet were 2 rebounds and 2 turnovers, highlighting how limited his influence really was. Gran Canaria needed Newley to step up as they have now fallen of the pace and sit four game back from fourth-ranked Madrid in 5th spot on the league table.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIy8aURaM0s