Riders Hopes of Advancing in FIBA Europe Cup Ended by Dinamo Sassari

Image Credit: Joe Pinchin/Leicester Riders

Leicester Riders hopes of advancing to the second round of the FIBA Europe Cup came to an end after falling 60-95 at the hands of Dinamo Sassari on the road on Wednesday night.

Leicester dropped to 0-4 at the bottom of Group H with two games remaining, needing a top two finish to advance. With Dinamo Sassari now 4-0 and Szolnoki Olaj 3-1, even two wins would not see the British club secure a top two finish.

Riders were without DeAndre Burnett, JR Holder and Kiefer Douse, making an already difficult task even more challenging, as Sassari used a 25-6 run bridged between the second and third quarters to take a commanding lead 20 point lead they would never look back from.

“We knew what the challenge was,” Riders Head Coach Rob Paternostro said after the game.

“…They’re super talented; with their starters, with their bench, they are loaded. Last time we lpayed them we gave it a great effort and came up short, this time coming in we’re down three guys, Burnett, Holder and Douse, three of our creative guards. We knew that scoring was going to be a problem for us and it was tonight.

“The first quarter, we led at the end of one, our effort was awesome. I thought the guys really dug in, I thought defensively for the most part we played petty good. I thought down the stretch we struggled a bit and they burned us. They shot the heck out of the ball tonight.”

Conner Washington led Riders with 15 points, Andy Thomson joined in him double figures with 12, whilst Pierre Hampton and TrayVonn Wright added 9 each.

Achille Polonara had 22 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the Italian side.

Box score.

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