Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade held off a furious late charge from EA7 Emporio Armani Milan to claim an 80–78 win in EuroLeague Round 2.
The Serbian side secured its first victory of the season after letting a 20-point cushion nearly slip away in front of a sold-out Belgrade Arena.
Sterling Brown led the home team with 20 points, while Carlik Jones added 15. Jabari Parker and Isaac Bonga contributed 10 each as Partizan improved to 1–1.
Shavon Shields paced Milan with a game-high 21 points. Marko Guduric posted 12 points and 8 assists but missed a contested three-point attempt at the final buzzer that would have stolen the game for the visitors.
Partizan started brightly, with Brown scoring 10 of the team’s first 12 points. Milan kept close early, trailing only 21–19 after the first quarter.
The hosts took control in the second period. Jones ignited a 15–2 run that stretched the margin to double digits, allowing Partizan to carry a 45–33 lead into halftime.
Early in the third, Brown and Parker fueled another surge, pushing the gap to 53–33. Backed by their fans, Partizan appeared in full command after a 23–4 run across both halves.
Milan responded with long-range shooting and transition baskets. Shields powered the comeback, cutting the deficit to 69–62 at the end of the third quarter.
Partizan still looked safe at 78–67 midway through the final period. However, turnovers and missed shots let Milan claw back into the contest.
Armoni Brooks hit key shots in the closing minutes, and Guduric kept Milan alive with his playmaking. A late burst brought the score to 80–78 with 11 seconds left.
On the final possession, Milan gave the ball to Guduric, but his off-balance three-point attempt missed everything. The home crowd erupted in relief as Partizan escaped with the narrow win.
The Serbian champions shot 52.4 percent from deep (11-for-21) and forced 16 turnovers, but their second-half lapses nearly cost them.
Milan, now 1–1, fell short of completing a Belgrade sweep after defeating Crvena Zvezda in the opening round. Partizan, now 1-1 after losing against Dubai Basketball in season opener, will next look to build on its momentum as the EuroLeague season gathers pace.
