EA7 Emporio Armani Milan kept its EuroLeague postseason hopes alive with a commanding 103-87 victory over Virtus Bologna in the Italian derby on Thursday, March 26, at Unipol Forum.
The win lifted Milan to 17-17 in the standings, keeping the club within striking distance of the play-in positions with several teams tied at 19-14 ahead in the playoff race.
Zach LeDay set the tone early, scoring 16 of his game-high 19 points in the first half while adding eight rebounds to anchor the home side’s offense.
Quinn Ellis provided balance in the backcourt with 18 points and six assists, orchestrating a fluid attack that consistently created open looks.
Milan seized control from the opening quarter, using strong defensive pressure and ball movement to build a 32-19 lead after the first period.
Virtus briefly cut into the deficit before halftime, trimming the margin to 57-49, but the hosts regained full control in the second half.
Olimpia stretched the lead to 79-66 by the end of the third quarter and maintained the cushion through the final period as the visitors struggled to slow the pace.
LeDay was highly efficient from long range, hitting 5 of 7 three-point attempts as Milan’s perimeter shooting proved decisive.
The home team finished with 14 made three-pointers and recorded 25 assists, reflecting a ball-sharing offense that generated consistent scoring chances.
Devin Booker added 14 points in the paint, while Marko Guduric and Josh Nebo contributed 11 points each to round out a balanced scoring effort.
Armoni Brooks chipped in 10 points and grabbed five rebounds, helping Milan maintain control during the second-half stretch.
Virtus Bologna struggled to find offensive rhythm despite several individual scoring efforts.
Saliou Niang led the visitors with 15 points, while Matt Morgan and Mouhamet Diouf each added 14.
Derrick Alston Jr. finished with 10 points, but Virtus lacked production from Carsen Edwards, who scored only three points on 1-of-6 shooting.
The victory keeps Milan in the playoff chase heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Olimpia will travel to face Paris Basketball on April 2, while Virtus Bologna will host Valencia Basket on April 3.
