Virtus Bologna Beats Olympiacos 96-94 in EuroLeague Thriller on Carr Buzzer-Beater

Virtus Bologna secured its first victory of the EuroLeague season by defeating reigning champions Olympiacos 96-94 at the Paladozza, thanks to a game-winning three-pointer by Carr at the final buzzer.

Olympiacos Takes Narrow Halftime Lead at PalaDozza

The match at the PalaDozza began at a blistering pace, with both teams trading baskets in an opening quarter characterized by high offensive efficiency and minimal defensive resistance. Olympiacos relied heavily on perimeter shooting, with Isaiah Dorsey going 5-for-5 from beyond the arc in the first period alongside Sasha Vezenkov. After a sluggish start to the second period where Olympiacos used a 13-2 run to seize control, Bologna responded with an 11-0 counter-punch. The Greek side managed to edge ahead at halftime, taking a narrow 50-49 advantage into the locker room. The result remained in balance until sixty seconds before the end of the first quarter, when Diouf first, and Hackett then, sent Virtus ahead by 3 points. Coach Mumbrù’s team equalized at 3 minutes and 30 seconds before the end of the first half, and two free throws by Hackett sent Bologna ahead at the first stop for 33-30. At halftime, Carr and Dorsey each had 15 points, though the Olympiacos player remained scoreless in the second 10 minutes.

Ousmane Ndiaye Fuels Late Olympiacos Run

However, Olympiacos responded decisively in the final frame behind forward Ousmane Ndiaye. The Senegalese forward scored four baskets in under two minutes, fueling a 10-0 run that put the defending champions back in front 80-75 by the 32nd minute. Ndiaye finished the contest with a game-high 23 points and 7 rebounds, shooting 10-for-11 from two-point range. During the third quarter, Diarra, Alston, and Moore brought Mumbrù’s squad back ahead, closing the period up by 5 points thanks also to a good contribution from the bench by Klintman and Frazier. Bologna reached its maximum advantage in the second half and looked to pull away with Alston at 70-63 by the 27th minute, but Ndiaye emerged as a puzzle for the Emilians.

Final-Seconds Drama at the Buzzer

Trailing in the closing minutes, Bologna mounted a late comeback behind resilient scoring from Diarra and Alston. Diarra converted from the free-throw line to push the hosts ahead before Ndiaye answered with a three-point play to restore the Greek advantage. After Diarra scored again to put Virtus up by one with 20 seconds remaining, Olympiacos player Montero drove for a basket with six seconds left on the clock to make it 94-93 in favor of the visitors. On the final possession of the game, Carr received the ball and launched a three-pointer that found the net as the final siren sounded, sealing the 96-94 victory and sparking celebrations across the PalaDozza floor. Olympiacos had placed a 10-0 run at the start of the final period before Bologna worked its way back into contention.

High Scoring Performances Mark Tight Contest

Alston added 17 points for the Italian side. For Olympiacos, alongside Ndiaye’s 23 points, Dorsey finished with 22 points and Vezenkov chipped in 20 points, but the reigning champions failed to contain Bologna’s inside attack down the stretch. Carr led Virtus with 22 points and 10 assists, while Diarra posted 18 points and 14 rebounds. Central pick and rolls from Carr for Diarra and fast breaks produced a 14-for-16 shooting performance from two-point range that allowed Mumbrù’s players to withstand the veterans under coach Bartzokas.