MEGA SUPERBET FALLS TO INDIANA UNIVERSITY IN A THRILLING FINISH

Mega Superbet’s basketball team lost to Indiana University with a score of 81:80 in a preparatory match played at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan. In a dramatic ending, Indiana secured the win with a dunk by Reid Bailey just five seconds before the final buzzer. In the final possession, Savo Drezgić missed the shot that could have won the game.

Just like in their first game, Mega opened the match excellently. Late in the first quarter, they held a 21:5 lead and were up by 20 at halftime (50:30). In the first 20 minutes, Mega shot impressively both from two-point and three-point range, hitting 69% of their two-point attempts (9/13) and 50% from three (7/14).

In the second half, Indiana raised their level of play and managed to erase Mega’s large lead. The Belgrade team entered the final minute with a three-point advantage, but the American college team made a comeback and clinched the win in the closing seconds. In the final possession, Drezgić missed a three-pointer that would have secured the victory for his team. Drezgić was, nonetheless, Mega’s top performer with 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Other players in double digits were Bogoljub Marković with 15, Asim Đulović with 11, and Urban Kroflič with 10 points. On the other side, Taylen Conerway led Indiana with 18 points.

Coach Vule Avdalović reflected on the two games played in Puerto Rico after the match:

– We played better in the second game than in the first. Once again, we had the lead, but this time we were ahead for almost 40 minutes—up until Indiana’s final basket. I believe the outcome came down to the short preparation period. We only had ten days to prepare for games against a more experienced team, and that showed on the court. We played well while we had the energy, but once that faded, the tempo dropped—and the more experienced team took advantage. We did lose both games, but we left a much better impression in the second one than in the first. Now we’ll take a short break and then continue our preparations for the competitive season. I think this phase of preparations was successful—we avoided major injuries, which was our top priority. These games will be very useful for analysis, and we’ll know what to work on throughout the season, 

said Avdalović. 

Mega wrapped up their Indiana summer tour with two losses to Indiana University. In the second game, they came very close to beating an NCAA team—nearly repeating their 2018 feat when Mega defeated Michigan in Spain.

Photo: Emilija Jovanović