Milano suffers late collapse as Udine completes stunning 86-83 comeback victory
Serie A Drama - EA7 Emporio Armani Milano squandered a 10-point fourth-quarter lead as APU Old Wild West Udine mounted a spectacular comeback to secure an 86-83 victory in Round 24, with Xavier Christon leading the charge with 25 points in a thrilling finish at PalaCarnera.
Milano suffers late collapse as Udine completes stunning 86-83 comeback victor Photo Credit: Milano Basketball
Milano’s European commitments continue to take their toll on domestic performances. Just days after their double Euroleague week featuring matches against Monaco and Virtus Bologna, Peppe Poeta’s squad appeared to run out of steam when it mattered most, suffering their second defeat in three Serie A outings.
The visitors controlled proceedings for most of the contest, building a comfortable 40-34 halftime advantage before extending their cushion to 10 points early in the final period at 66-56. However, fatigue from their intense Euroleague schedule began to show as Udine sensed an opportunity.
Christon sparks dramatic turnaround
Trailing 77-69 with time running out, Udine produced a game-changing 11-0 run that completely flipped the script. Darius Bendzius, Mirza Alibegovic, and Xavier Christon all contributed crucial baskets during this decisive stretch, suddenly putting the home side in front after spending most of the game chasing the scoreboard.
Milano refused to surrender, with Nico Mannion drilling a clutch 3-pointer to cut the deficit to just two points. But after Christon’s free throw made it 86-83, the drama reached its peak when Armoni Brooks – the same player who had won the reverse fixture at Allianz Cloud with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer – missed the potential game-tying shot that would have forced overtime.
Christon’s 25-point performance led Udine’s offensive charge, while Alibegovic contributed 16 points and 6 assists in an all-around display. Bendzius added 12 points, and Jalen Spencer dominated the glass with 10 rebounds to go with 4 points.
Despite Mannion’s solid 18-point showing and Omer Nebo’s impressive 16-point effort, Milano’s 3-point shooting woes proved costly. Brooks managed just 11 points while shooting a dismal 0-for-7 from beyond the arc, epitomizing the team’s overall struggles from distance as they connected on only 5 of 22 attempts.
The victory lifts Udine to 18 points, virtually securing their Serie A status while keeping playoff hopes alive. Milano remains on 32 points, tied for third place with Venezia, but will need to quickly regroup with Thursday’s Euroleague clash against Paris Basket on the horizon.
Sylvain Sultat follows the NBA on a daily basis, covering individual performances, team dynamics, and the league's greatest stories. On Be-Basketball, he breaks down the latest American basketball news with passion and consistency, always on the lookout for the trends shaping the world of basketball.
Comments (0)