Xavier Moon scored 10 of his 14 points in the final minutes to lift Maxima Roma to an 81-75 victory over APU Udine at the Palazzetto dello Sport. The tightly contested battle marked the third win across LBA and Eurocup play for the hosts, who capitalized on late execution to fend off a persistent Friulian side.
Late Game Execution Propels Roma Past Udine
The closing stretch proved decisive as Moon took control of the offensive flow. The late surge broke open a game that remained deadlocked for long stretches, punishing Udine’s defensive lapses in the game’s final moments. Head coach Matteo Cotelli saw his squad grind out the physical contest despite enduring prolonged foul trouble with Bilan, who sat on the bench for vital stretches.
Roma distributed the scoring load effectively, placing six players in double figures. Alongside Moon’s 14 points, Wheatle chipped in 13 points to share the team-high scoring honors. Alibegovic added 11 points, while Brown, Holiday, and Tyson also reached double digits with 11, 10, and 10 points respectively. The home side shot 19-for-33 from two-point range and added 8-for-25 from beyond the arc, complemented by 17 team assists.
Shooting Woes Undermine Udine Inside the Arc
APU Udine had chances to secure an away victory but suffered through a dismal shooting night from long distance. The visitors managed just 5 makes on 40 attempts from three-point territory, offsetting a strong 21-for-33 conversion rate on two-point shots. Denzel Valentine endured a particularly difficult outing, missing all 10 of his attempts from beyond the arc to finish with 10 points.
The shooting struggles persisted despite an impressive rebounding effort from the visitors. Udine dominated the offensive glass 18 to 7, building a 46-35 overall rebounding advantage that kept second-chance opportunities alive. Zan Sisko paced Udine with 13 points and 6 rebounds while shooting 5-for-6 inside, but the perimeter cold streak ultimately derailed their upset bid.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
The opening period set a competitive tone as Roma edged ahead 22-19 after ten minutes. Udine responded sharply in the second frame, outscoring the hosts 21-13 to carve out a 40-35 advantage at halftime. Roma reclaimed the momentum after the break with a 24-18 third-quarter swing, taking a slim 59-58 edge into the final stanza before sealing the 81-75 outcome with a 22-17 closing period.
The schedule offers no relief for the Friulian side as an upcoming fixture against Tortona approaches.
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