Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul closed November with another narrow win, defeating Virtus Bologna 66–64 on Tuesday night at Ulker Sports and Event Hall to extend its streak to five straight victories.
The result lifts the defending EuroLeague champions to 8–5, completing a perfect month that followed a difficult 3–5 start.
Wade Baldwin set the tone for the hosts, scoring 18 points in 25 minutes and delivering several timely drives when Fenerbahce’s half-court offense stalled.
The game developed into a defensive grind, with both clubs struggling to convert open looks and relying heavily on physical half-court possessions.
Neither side created separation as the score remained tight for all four quarters, with Virtus leading 17–15 after the first and Fenerbahce responding to tie the game 30–30 by halftime.
Nicolo Melli delivered the decisive play in the closing seconds, tipping in a missed attempt to break a 64–64 tie and seal a two-point margin.
Melli’s four points came with six rebounds in 26 minutes, while Talen Horton-Tucker and Bonzie Colson each added eight points for the home team.
Devon Hall gave Fenerbahce a lift with nine points, all from deep, and contributed three assists as part of a rotation that compensated for cold shooting inside the arc.
Fenerbahce went 13-of-36 on two-pointers and 9-of-29 from three, but a perfect 13-of-13 showing at the line helped stabilize its scoring in a game dominated by defensive pressure.
Virtus countered with strong interior finishing, hitting 54% on two-point attempts, but struggled heavily from long range.
Matt Morgan led the Italian side with 13 points in 18 minutes, while Carsen Edwards added 11 but shot 3-of-16 from the field.
The visitors’ 8-of-27 night from beyond the arc kept them from capitalizing on stretches where they controlled the tempo.
Virtus slipped to 6–7 with its fifth straight road loss, despite a balanced effort that included nine points from Karim Jallow and seven points with 12 rebounds from Mouhamet Diouf.
Both teams now head into the break with demanding travel ahead. Fenerbahce visits Olympiacos Piraeus next Thursday, while Virtus faces Dubai Basketball the following evening.
