Aris needed to win A.E.K. and did so, 79-76 (halftime score 35-33) for Game 21 of the Hellenic Championships 2009-2010, in Alexandrio Melathro. In spite of all the injury problems, David Blatt’s team -which played without Jeremy Richardson (hematoma in the leg) and Michalis Kakiouzis (tendinitis on the shoulder)- knew how to beat a tough and in-form rival.

The visitors started with more energy and took the lead since the very beginning (2-8 at 2’30, 13-20 at 7’), but then Aris got much better in defense and led by Walsh in attack (11 points in the 1st period).

In the beginning of the 2nd quarter, things got even better, thanks to Clark’s back-to-back three-point shots. The “yellows” extended their run to 12-0, took the lead (25-20) and later on they were up by 9 (33-24 at 16’). However, A.E.K. stroke back: Their first field goal into the 2nd period came just 2:21 before halftime, but despite that they ran a 0-9 and made it 33-33.

The 3rd quarter belonged to Aris, though. They got some important offensive rebounds and built a double-digit lead (47-37, 6:14 before the end). Theyevenreachedat“+11” (50-39 and54-43,thanks to three-pointers made by Walsh and Clark respectively), which would be the largest score difference in the game. However, the visitors’ persistency gave fruit once more and they came close (54-50, after a 0-7 run) just before the end of the period.

The “yellows” took again a 10-point lead, but the final couple of minutes were pretty tough. A.E.K. cut the difference down to just 3 points (72-69 with 1:06 to go, 75-72 with 11’’9 to go) and then Green scored another difficult three-pointer, to make it 77-75 with just 5’’9 to go. Miles missed one free throw but scored another (78-75, 5’’4 before the end), Green was fouled immediately so that he wouldn’t try for another three-pointer and when he missed deliberately his last free throw (78-76, with 2’’8 to go), Walsh took the rebound to secure Aris’s victory.

Referees: Leonidas Spyridonos (Patras), Charis Karakatsounis (Volos), Christos Panagiotou (Patras).

Periods: 18-20, 35-33 (halftime), 58-51, 79-76.

ARIS (David Blatt): Clark 22 (5), Miles 3, Betts 10, Walsh 17 (2), Chatzivrettas 6, Dikoudis 11 (1), Skordilis, Paunic, Barlos 9.

Α.Ε.Κ. (Minas Gekos): Green 14 (3), Nikolaidis 11 (3), Mazeika 2, Mack 7 (1), Papantoniou, Mels 3 (1), Dorkofikis 10 (2), Kallinikidis 2, Francis 27 (2).