Bahçeşehir Koleji Defeated Beşiktaş GAİN in Overtime: 98-95

The third match played on Saturday evening at Sinan Erdem was the most dramatic night of the play-off series. Bahçeşehir Koleji made a fast start by passing the first quarter 22-15 ahead; however, Beşiktaş GAİN came out with a 31-18 period in the second quarter and went to half-time 46-40 ahead. In the first half, on the Beşiktaş GAİN side, Jonah Mathews stood out; the American player produced 18 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists throughout the match.

The third quarter was the period in which Bahçeşehir Koleji became a partner on the court again — the orange-and-navy team entered the last period 63-58 ahead with a 23-12 run. In the last quarter, Beşiktaş GAİN took the score to 78-78 with a 20-15 counter-attack and the match went to overtime. In total shot attempts, the two teams were almost equal (Bahçeşehir 67, Beşiktaş 66); in shot accuracy, the table was also close — Bahçeşehir 51%, Beşiktaş 50%. In rebounds, a balanced 37-36 table also emerged.

The 5 minutes in overtime were the summary of the match. At Bahçeşehir Koleji, Malachi Flynn was the brightest name of the night; the American playmaker stayed on the court for 41 minutes with 27 points, 2 rebounds and 5 assists and carried Bahçeşehir's score in the additional segment. Hunter Hale added 19 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists; Mateusz Ponitka and Tyler Cavanaugh also contributed at critical moments. On the Beşiktaş GAİN side, alongside Mathews' 18 points, Brynton Lemar and Anthony Brown produced support with double-digit points, but in the critical last offensives in overtime, the orange-and-navy team's defensive solutions determined the difference.

The series is now 2-1 in favour of Bahçeşehir Koleji. In the semi-final where the side reaching three wins will advance to the final, Bahçeşehir Koleji will use Sinan Erdem in the fourth match of the 2-2-1 format by continuing the home advantage. For Beşiktaş GAİN, the entire weight of the series will now be on the upcoming match; the black-and-whites can only get the chance to return to the Akatlar Arena for the fifth match to be played if necessary by winning away. While the Anadolu Efes - Fenerbahçe Beko series continues in the other semi-final, one side of the final is now very close to coming out from between Bahçeşehir Koleji and Beşiktaş GAİN.

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