BOLOGNA — Bayern Munich defeated Virtus Bologna 80-85 in EuroLeague action, in the night's only game without direct playoff implications. The Bavarian squad secured victory at Virtus Segafredo Arena thanks to a solid second half and an outstanding performance by David McCormack.
The EuroLeague matchup between Virtus Bologna and Bayern Munich began with plenty of balance and offensive rhythm. Both teams exchanged baskets throughout much of the first half, in an entertaining contest that kept the score tightly contested.
After the first twenty minutes, the game reached halftime tied at 43 points, reflecting an open affair in which neither team managed to establish clear dominance.
After the break, Bayern Munich began to control the pace of the game, relying on the offensive production of David McCormack, who delivered an outstanding performance with 24 points and 8 rebounds, becoming the most decisive player in the contest.
Virtus Bologna remained competitive throughout the second half and managed to regain the lead in the final stretch of the game. With three minutes remaining, the Italian squad went ahead 75-73, reopening the contest at Virtus Segafredo Arena.
However, Bayern Munich responded with a decisive 12-5 run in the final minutes, regaining control of the scoreboard at the most critical moment of the game.
For the German squad, Andreas Obst also stood out, contributing 11 points, though he made just one three-pointer on seven attempts from beyond the arc.
For Virtus Bologna, the standout player was Matt Morgan, who posted 28 points in an impressive offensive display. The shooting guard even cut the deficit to just two points (85-83) with 16 seconds remaining.
The final say belonged to Neno Dimitrijevic, who converted two free throws with eight seconds left, securing Bayern Munich's victory in EuroLeague play.
With this win, Bayern Munich improves to 16-20 in the EuroLeague, while Virtus Bologna failed to capitalize on home-court advantage in a game with no direct impact on the playoff positioning race in the competition.