Valmiera Glass ViA trailed by 19 points midway the second quarter but thanks to a brilliant game by Jordan Watson returned in full force and defeated Donar Groningen in overtime, 81-78 (68-68), on Tuesday, October 8, at the Vidzeme Olympic center in northern Latvia.
Players of the game
Valmiera scored only 15 points in the first 16 minutes of the game but recovered surprisingly fast.
Jordan Watson made back-to-back three pointers with two minutes left in the first half to fuel a 26-5 run.
Philadelphia born player from West Liberty University finished the game with 36 points – the second best result in ENBL history.
Watson went 8/13 from the three point line to set a new ENBL record.
A previous record was set by another Valmiera player – Jānis Kaufmanis.
Kahliel Spear acted as an defensive rock for Valmiera.
A former Bucknell and Robert Morris power forward grabbed a rebound on the defensive end, and did it again, and again, and again.
He finished with 18 rebounds – just three boards short from repeating ENBL record.
Zach Harvey led Donar with 24 points.
A former UC Santa Barbara guard tied the game at 68 with seven seconds left in regulation.
Key stats
Donar Groningen led by 19 points, 15-34, after a 6/9 barrage from the three point line.
Artis Ate hit a go-ahead three for Valmiera, 41-39, to finish a big comeback run.
Donar fought until the end and tied the game at 68.
There was a video review and the game clock was reset to 1.7 seconds.
Keevan Veinot missed a three point attempt way behind the logo.
Valmiera outscored Donar in overtime 13-10.
Points | ENBL records | 30 points club
Kristen Kasemets 39 November 21, 2023, Valmiera 91-97 Keila
Jordan Watson 36 October 8, 2024, Valmiera 81-78 Donar OT
Barret Benson 35 January 22, 2024, Lublin 85-75 Tartu
E.J. Anosike 34 April 10, 2024, Liège 83-73 Šiauliai
Jakub Garbacz 33 January 31, 2023, Wolves 87-75 Ostrow
Liam O`Reilly 33 November 21, 2023, Lublin 85-107 Bristol
Jerai Grant 32 January 4, 2023, Budivelnyk 73-59 TalTech
Trevon Allen 31 April 10, 2024, Voluntari 81-85 Bakken Bears
Three point shots | ENBL records
Jordan Watson 8/13 October 8, 2024, Valmiera 81-78 Donar OT
Jānis Kaufmanis 7/13 February 2, 2022, Valmiera 85-92 Šiauliai
Troy Barnies 7/10 December 22, 2022, Lublin 88-94 Zielona Gora
Kristaps Gludītis 7/13 January 25, 2023, Prishtina 73-91 TalTech
Andrii Myronenko 7/10 January 10, 2024, Šiauliai 107-79 Keila
Trevon Allen 7/9 April 10, 2024, Voluntari 81-85 Bakken Bears
Rebounds | ENBL records
Dean Mickelson 21 December 2, 2021, Valmiera 77-79 Brno
Kahliel Spear 18 October 8, 2024, Valmiera 81-78 Donar OT
Noah Dickerson 16 October 31, 2023, Zwolle 77-62 Svendborg
Hameir Wright 16 November 8, 2023, Svendborg 62-102 Lublin
Kevin Tumba 16 January 23, 2024, Newcastle 100-92 Liège
Game notes
Valmiera Glass ViA improved to 3-0, while Donar dropped to 0-2.
Nikolajs Mazurs and his men are 5-1 in all competitions.
Andrej Štimac and his squad are 1-5 in all competitions.
Donar podcast – aka Dourisseau Radio – traveled all the way from Groningen to Valmiera after a start in early morning.
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube
STANDINGS, as of October 8, 2024
Group A
Valmiera Glass ViA 3-0, +42
CSO Voluntari 1-0, +20
BK Opava 1-0, +15
Dziki Warszawa 1-1, -4
Spišski Rytieri 1-1, -20
Donar Groningen 0-2, -19
Spartak Pleven 0-2, -30
Tartu Ulikool 0-1, -4
Newcastle Eagles
Group B
Legia Warszawa 1-0, +30
Bamberg Baskets 1-0, +15
Bakken Bears 1-0, +11
Bristol Flyers 0-1, -11
Dinamo Bucharest 0-1, -15
Fyllingen Lions 0-1, -30
Basket Brno
Inter Bratislava
Keila Coolbet
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