Olympiakos survives AEK scare
AEK nearly put an end to the unbeaten record of Olympiakos this season, but the league leader managed to win 79-74 to stay alone on top of the A1 table on January 29.
Playing its first home game at Zofria, northeastern Athens, after being ejected from the court of Elliniko, AEK matched its visitor and took the game down to the wire under the guidance of new coach Angelos Koronios.
Nevertheless, Olympiakos got away with a mediocre performance and had an improved Zoran Erceg to thank for his 14 points, four rebounds and two assists, as well as Yiannis Bourousis for 19 points and seven rebounds.
Champion Panathinaikos also had problems against bottom side Ilisiakos, but only in the first half.
The Greens, who had played a Euroleague game less than 48 hours earlier, trailed their visitors 42-41 at half-time, but eventually won 88-71. They remain one point behind Olympiakos.
Third-placed Maroussi lost 78-61 at Kolossos Rhodes, which is one of the four teams that are one point behind Maroussi.
The other three are PAOK, Kavala and Aris. PAOK dismissed local rival Iraklis away with an emphatic 86-67 win; Kavala saw off visiting Peristeri 66-58 and Aris came from behind to down Panellinios 73-63.
Yet the tightest of all games was that between neighbors Panionios and Ikaros Kallitheas on January 30. Regulation time ended 81-81 and Panionios won in overtime with a 96-84 score.
