Our Beşitaş Cola Turka Men’s Basketball Team pulled out a 97-89 OT victory over visiting Kepez Belediyesi at BJK Cola Turka Arena in the 10th week of Beko Basketball League.

The game started with both teams exchanging easy baskets but neither side gained the upper hand during the early going. While Black and Whites took advantage of Sinan Güler’s hot hand, the visitors answered him with jumpers from Simmons to stay in the game. Despite Güven Esmer’s baskets that pulled the visitors ahead at times, the teams traded the lead back and forth throughout most of the quarter. But Beşiktaş Cola Turka still managed to take a slim 21-20 edge going into second.
The first 5 minutes of the second quarter turned out to be replica of the first. The home team and visitors continued to battle point for point. However, relying heavily on outside shots, Kepez Belediyesi began to falter midway through the quarter and lost its offensive rhythm. Backed by a tightened defense, Black and White team rallied behind consecutive fast-break points from Erkan and Sinan and opened up a 6 point gap late in the quarter. A number of clutch threes down the stretch helped Black and Whites maintain their edge as they went into their dressing room with a 40-36 lead at the half.
Visitors came on strong in the third, and tried to trim the deficit with fast-break points, but Beşiktaş Cola Turka fought back, and kept its 4 point margin intact. Spurred by Nicevic’s lay-ups under the basket, Beşiktaş closed the third quarter leading 59-56.
The final quarter saw visiting Kepez Belediyesi pull within 68-67 with 5 minutes left, and almost grab the lead. But Beşiktaş Cola Turka countered with Nicevic’s unstoppable lay-ups, and began to increase the deficit once again. Unable to get inside, visitors turned to outside shots, and managed to cut the deficit to 72-71 late in the quarter. From then on, the game turned into a nail-biting seesaw affair as Black and Whites entered the final 15 seconds holding an 80-77 edge. But, Simmons drilled a long-range 3-pointer and sent the game into overtime.
Visiting Antalya City representatives opened the overtime with a three by Simmons, and took an early lead. However, Dalmau quickly responded with a three of his own and tied the game. As the final 5 minutes progressed, Beşiktaş began to capitalize on its opponents turnovers, and sprinted to a 6 point advantage behind baskets by Shumpert and Dalmau. But, visitors rallied back to close the gap and entered the final 30 seconds trailing by only 2. Following Sinan Güler’s clutch 3-pointer with 22 seconds to play, which turned out to be a breath of fresh air for Beşiktaş Cola Turka, Dalmau’s free throws pushed Black and Whites’ lead to 7 with 10 seconds remaining in overtime. When the final buzzer sounded, Beşiktaş Cola Turka pulled away with a well-earned 97-89 victory.
Nicevic finished with a game-high 25 points followed by Sinan Güler and Shumpert who both scored 20 points each. Dalmau (16), Kaya Peker (5), Erkan (4), Onur (3), Mehmet Yağmur (2) and Erkan Özer (2) also contributed to home team’s victory.