Istanbul, Turkey – Galatasaray MCT Technic rallied from a double-digit first-half deficit to secure a 98-94 victory over Onvo Büyükçekmece Basketbol in Week 23 of the Türkiye Sigorta Basketbol Süper Ligi on Thursday. The win marked Galatasaray’s 13th league victory of the season, while Büyükçekmece suffered their 20th loss.
The game, played at the Basketbol Gelişim Merkezi in Istanbul, saw Büyükçekmece establish early control, leading by as many as 19 points in the first half. However, a determined second-half performance from Galatasaray, fueled by a significant shift in offensive efficiency, allowed them to overcome the early disadvantage and ultimately claim the win. This result was particularly crucial for Galatasaray as they continue to navigate a competitive league landscape.
Büyükçekmece started the game with a flurry, opening with a 9-0 run in the first four minutes thanks to a powerful dunk from Lecque. They continued to build their lead, extending it to 33-20 at the end of the first quarter. Pipes’ outside shooting further widened the gap, pushing the lead to 19 points (31-12) early in the second period. Galatasaray struggled to find their rhythm offensively and defensively in the first half, allowing Büyükçekmece to maintain their momentum.
The visitors continued to capitalize on Galatasaray’s struggles, extending their lead to 22 points (50-28) midway through the second quarter with a basket from Johnson. However, Galatasaray began to chip away at the deficit towards the end of the half, utilizing baskets from Meeks and Palmer. Despite the late push, Büyükçekmece entered halftime with a comfortable 58-47 lead.
The turning point of the game came in the third quarter. Galatasaray emerged with renewed energy, tightening their defense and finding more consistent scoring opportunities. They outscored Büyükçekmece 35-11 in the period, taking their first lead of the game when McCollum completed a layup with approximately 10 minutes remaining in the third. McCollum continued to be a key factor, and with six seconds left in the quarter, he converted a free throw to extend Galatasaray’s lead to 82-69 heading into the final period.
The fourth quarter proved to be a tense affair, with Büyükçekmece attempting to mount a comeback. They started the period with a series of three-pointers, narrowing the gap to 82-75. Galatasaray, however, responded with crucial baskets from Palmer and McCollum, ultimately holding off Büyükçekmece’s charge to secure the 98-94 victory. The final minutes were characterized by intense back-and-forth action, but Galatasaray’s ability to execute down the stretch proved decisive.
Palmer led Galatasaray with 23 points, while McCollum added 20. Meeks and Buğrahan Tuncer each contributed 12 points. For Büyükçekmece, Lecque was the leading scorer with 21 points, followed by Van Der Vuurst with 13 and Gavrilovic with 12. Fotomaç reported on the game’s key moments and the impact of McCollum’s performance in the second half.
G.SARAY MCT TECHNIC 98 – ONVO B.ÇEKMECE BASKETBOL 94
Venue: Basketbol Gelişim Merkezi, Istanbul, Turkey
Referees: Ali Şakacı, Ahmet Tatlıcı, Halil Erkoç
Galatasaray MCT Technic: Can Korkmaz 3, Palmer 23, Petrucelli 5, Gillespie 5, White 13, McCollum 20, Ellis 4, Tibet Görener, Meeks 12, Buğrahan Tuncer 12, Muhsin Yaşar 1
Onvo Büyükçekmece Basketbol: Van Der Vuurst 13, Muhaymin Mustafa 4, Can Kaan Turgut 5, Bruinsma 7, Gavrilovic 12, Lecque 21, Yiğit Özkan 3, Metin Türen 1, Pipes 12, Bandaogo 6, Doğan Şenli 6, Johnson 4
Period Scores: 1st Period: 20-33, Halftime: 47-58, 3rd Period: 82-69
Galatasaray will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for their next challenge in the Türkiye Sigorta Basketbol Süper Ligi. The team’s performance in the second half demonstrated their resilience and ability to adjust, qualities that will be crucial as they navigate the remainder of the season. Büyükçekmece, meanwhile, will aim to bounce back from this defeat in their upcoming fixtures.
What did you believe of Galatasaray’s comeback? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
