Nizhny Novgorod made a memorable Turkish Airlines Euroleague debut, rallying from a 19-point deficit to edge fellow newcomer Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari 88-86 in a thriller. Sassari opened the game scoring 26 points in less than 7 minutes, and opening a 7-26 lead, but the hosts started melting the deficit behind Trey Thompkins and Artsiom Parakhouski. Nizhny used a 10-0 run fueled by Tarence Kinsey to get to 43-47 at halftime, then opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run. Once Nizhny got its first lead, 48-47 early in the third quarter, it never relinquished it. Led by Parakhouski, Kinsey and Taylor Rochestie, the hosts’ built 82-72 margin, but Rakim Sanders, David Logan and Jerome Dyson rallied Sassari. In a dramatic ending, Dyson had 4.5 seconds to send the game into overtime, but he missed a driving layup, and Nizhny celebrated a historic victory.
Nizhny Novgorod - Dinamo Sassari - 88-86
BC NN head coach Ainars Bagatskis:
First of all, I want to congratulate the whole city and Sergey Panov personally for the great work they've down throughout these years. It's a historical game for Nizhny Novgorod. We've started this game really bad but then managed to calm down and play our basketball. In the end we became nervous again for some reason. But this is the Euroleague, where experience wins.
BC NN captain Semen Anotonov:
It's a historical win for us. We've come a really long way to get this one. It wasn't a great start to the game. But this what our team is famous for - we fight till the end. I hope the fans enjoyed the show tonight and will come again.
Nizhny Novgorod landed Sean Denison
BC Nizhny Novgorod signed a one-year deal with Canadian bigman Sean Denison (211 cm, 111 kg, 32 y.o.). Last season he spent in Romanian CSM Oradea, participating in the national championship and Basketball Champions League. From 2011 till 2013 he played in Russian clubs Spartak-Primorye and Ataman.
Nizhny Novgorod terminated the contract with American forward Erik McCree who’d joined the team this august. The decision was made by mutual agreement. At the moment Nizhny is in search of a new player for the vacant place.
BC Nizhny Novgorod signed Erik McCree
BC NN signed a two-year contract with American forward Erik McCree (23 y.o., 203 cm, 102 kg). From 2013 to 2017 he was playing for Louisiana Tech in NCAA. Last season he showed his best statistics averaging 17,7 points, 8,9 rebounds, 1,3 assists in 33 games.
Sterling Gibbs joins BC Nizhny Novgorod
BC NN signed a two-year deal with American point guard Sterling Gibbs (188cm, 84kg, 24 y.o). In his college years he played for Seton Hall Pirates and Connecticut Huskies in NCAA. In 2016-2017 spent his first season overseas as he joined Hungarian team Kormend. He helped the team to semifinals in Hungarian Cup and Hungarian League averaging 14,4 points, 2,1 rebounds, 3,3 assists in 27 games.
