Unicaja Hits 19 Three-Pointers, Remains Unbeaten in BCL (99-94)

Unicaja responded to Sunday's loss to Barcelona with an extraordinary shooting night from beyond the arc in Europe. Txus Vidorreta's team made 19 three-pointers, the best mark in club history in the Basketball Champions League, and defeated Pallacanestro Reggiana, their closest rival in Group E. At 3-0, Unicaja closes the first half unbeaten as group leaders, though a careless finish forced them to suffer more than necessary.

Reggiana strikes first from three
Ignas Brazdeikis put Unicaja ahead in the opening minutes, but Reggiana responded with outside accuracy that surprised the Carpena. Three consecutive three-pointers and a 2+1 from JT Thor gave them control, and Riccardo Visconti extended the lead to close the first quarter at 16-25. Unicaja chipped away in the second quarter with three-pointers from Tyler Kalinoski and Matt Thomas, and got ahead, though a penetration by Uglietti left the score tied at 43 at halftime.

Eight three-pointers in the third quarter
The game broke open after halftime. Reggiana opened the second half with another three-pointer (45-50), but Unicaja found the rhythm it lacked. Kendrick Perry took control, with an end-to-end basket to tie it, and from there the Málaga perimeter caught fire: Noua and Thomas chained three-pointers, Perry added another and the team made eight in the quarter. The 32-21 period left it at 75-64 with ten minutes remaining.

Noua was the star of that stretch and the entire night: he finished with 27 points, 5 three-pointers and a rating of 27. Thomas, shooting 6 of 9 from three-point range, posted his best scoring night with Unicaja (20 points), and Perry orchestrated with 17 points and 9 assists.

A scare that changes nothing
A suspension of David Kravish and three-pointers from Lukosius and Perry extended the lead in the final quarter, which reached 18 points (98-80) with three minutes remaining. There Unicaja relaxed. Three-pointers from Severini and Jaylen Barford forced Vidorreta to call timeout, but Reggiana kept scoring amid local misses and a 0-14 run brought them within 98-94. A free throw from Noua in the final seconds closed out the game. Barford, with 22 points, and Visconti, with 15, led an Italian team that now has two losses.