Iverson Molinar converted two free throws with sixteen seconds remaining to lift Buducnost Podgorica past the JL Bourg 68-66 on Tuesday evening at Ekinox, Le Progrès reported.
The defending Eurocup finalists squandered a late lead in the closing minute, dropping their fifth match out of seven in the European group stage. Trey Woodbury paced the hosts with 15 points and 10 rebounds, but Bourg slipped to fifth place in the standings.
Tuesday’s encounter stayed close from the opening tip as neither side managed to pull away permanently. Bourg claimed the first quarter 21-20 and pushed their margin to four points at 29-25 in the second period, according to Media365 reporting via Sports.fr.
Buducnost answered with a 9-0 run before the hosts stabilized the score at 36-36 heading into halftime. The Monténégrin club features French internationals Jerry Boutsiele, who finished with 6 points and 7 rebounds, and Axel Bouteille, who contributed 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Bourg surged ahead by seven points at 48-41 in the third quarter following an 8-0 sequence, but the visitors clawed back to trail just 54-52 after thirty minutes. The French side reclaimed a 64-61 advantage with two minutes and eight seconds left on the clock.
Molinar struck back to put Buducnost ahead 65-64 before Tyger Campbell tied the game at 66-66 with thirty-two seconds remaining. Following Molinar’s decisive foul shots drawn off Trey Woodbury, Tyson Walker missed a final perimeter attempt for Bourg as the buzzer sounded.
The defeat leaves Bourg fifth in their group, sitting two victories away from the Top 4 qualification spots for the eighth-finals. The club returns to domestic competition before resuming European play in the second half of the group stage.
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