Carsen Edwards delivered a career-high 36 points as Virtus Bologna secured a 90-83 road victory over ASVEL on Friday in Villeurbanne. The guard’s performance helped Virtus bounce back from two consecutive away losses and improved their EuroLeague record to 3-2.
Edwards shot 12-of-22 from the field, including 5-of-12 from three-point range, and added 7-of-8 free throws. He also contributed a rebound, an assist, and a steal, finishing with a performance index rating of 28.
The game remained close through the first three quarters, with neither team holding more than a six-point advantage. Virtus broke the deadlock with a 13-0 run bridging the third and fourth periods, highlighted by Edwards’ three-pointer to make it 71-64.
ASVEL’s Glynn Watson led his team with 24 points, but his efforts weren’t enough to overcome Virtus’ balanced attack. Alessandro Pajola added 14 points, including four three-pointers, and praised Edwards for leading the effort.
Virtus shot 75.9% from two-point range and 35.5% from beyond the arc, while ASVEL struggled from distance, hitting only 24.1% of their three-pointers. The victory marked only the second time this season Virtus reached 90 points, surpassing their 81-point average.
Edwards’ 36 points also tied the highest individual scoring mark in the EuroLeague this season. After averaging 13.3 points over his first three games, he has now recorded back-to-back standout performances, following a 24-point outing against AS Monaco earlier in the week.
The win improves Virtus’ confidence on the road and emphasizes their defensive strength, as the team ranks fourth in the league for opponent three-point shooting percentage. ASVEL remains 1-4, facing challenges in finding consistent scoring outside of Watson.
Virtus will host Panathinaikos in Round 6, while ASVEL returns home to face Dubai.
