AS Monaco erased a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Anadolu Efes Istanbul 98-93 on Thursday at the Turkcell Basketball Development Center, delivering one of the most resilient comeback wins of the EuroLeague season.
The French side improved to 18-14, strengthening its position in the play-in zone, while Efes dropped to 10-22 despite controlling most of the contest.
Efes dictated the pace for three quarters, building separation through efficient interior scoring and perimeter shot-making, with Sehmus Hazer leading the charge.
Hazer produced a career-high 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-7 from three-point range, helping the Turkish club take an 83-73 lead with 6:30 remaining.
At that stage, Monaco—missing key scorers Nikola Mirotic and Mike James—appeared out of options, operating with just nine available players.
The turning point came through defensive stops and rapid offensive execution, key principles in late-game basketball when possessions carry greater value.
Alpha Diallo ignited the comeback with seven points in just over a minute, cutting into the deficit and forcing Efes into half-court sets.
Juhann Begarin added a three-pointer to make it a one-possession game before Jaron Blossomgame took control of the closing stretch.
Blossomgame scored 10 points in under two minutes, including a three-pointer and a three-point play, shifting momentum and giving Monaco its first lead since the second quarter.
The visitors executed efficiently down the stretch, turning a 12-27 run over the final seven minutes into a decisive edge.
Diallo sealed the outcome with a fast-break dunk to extend the lead to five points with 18 seconds remaining, ending Efes’s comeback hopes.
Blossomgame and Diallo each finished with 17 points, combining for 34 and anchoring the decisive run on both ends of the floor.
Matthew Strazel added 17 points and six assists, orchestrating the offense and maintaining spacing against Efes’s defensive pressure.
Monaco shot 67.6% on two-point attempts and 83.3% from the free-throw line, maximizing efficiency during its comeback while overcoming 16 turnovers.
Efes, despite shooting 59.4% inside the arc and recording 12 steals, struggled to generate consistent stops late, allowing Monaco to control the final possessions.
The result marked a second consecutive win for Monaco under new head coach Manuchar Markoishvili.
Monaco will return home to face EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on March 24, while Efes travels to take on FC Barcelona in its next EuroLeague fixture.
