Virtus Bologna finally overcame Zalgiris Kaunas on Tuesday, January 6, claiming an 83-79 home victory in Round 20 of the EuroLeague regular Season. The win ended eight straight defeats to the Lithuanian side, dating back to October 2007.
Virtus led for most of the game but faced a late surge as Zalgiris tied the score at 74-74 in the fourth quarter. Derrick Alston Jr. and Luca Vildoza combined for seven crucial points, while Carsen Edwards closed the game from the free-throw line to seal the triumph.
Matt Morgan set the tone early, scoring 13 of his 15 points in the first quarter. Edwards finished with 20 points, Alston Jr. added 20, and Vildoza contributed 12, with Saliou Niang recording 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and seven rebounds, including five offensive boards.
Niang’s energy on the offensive glass proved pivotal, helping Virtus generate second-chance points and maintain momentum when Zalgiris threatened to tie the contest late in regulation.
Zalgiris showcased strong individual performances with Nigel Williams-Goss scoring 17, Sylvain Francisco 10, Moses Wright 19, and Azuolas Tubelis 22, yet the rest of the roster combined for just three PIR, highlighting Virtus’ defensive effectiveness.
Virtus continued its dominance at home, now winning eight of 10 games at Virtus Arena, powered by passionate fans and disciplined execution under coach Dusko Ivanovic. The team displayed resilience, responding to Zalgiris’ comeback attempt with composure in the closing minutes.
Virtus improves to 10-10, setting up a Thursday visit to Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, while Zalgiris drops to 11-9 and will host Crvena Zvezda on Friday, aiming to regain momentum in the EuroLeague standings.
