Olympiakos win over Galatasaray marred by scuffle
Olympiakos stretched its unbeaten run to 17 games in all competitions beating Galatasaray 72-54 at home on Thursday, but the game nearly got abandoned when the players of the two teams started fighting and three of them got ejected from the game, while the Olympiakos fans at the stands threatened with an invasion.
The Reds were far better than their visitors and strolled to their seventh win in as many games having led from start to finish. They turned their eight-point advantage (18-10) after the first period to a 35-24 lead at half-time, before stretching their advantage to 26 points (70-44) with three and a half minutes left.
A few seconds later came the moment that stained the encounter, as Pops Mensah-Bonsu of Galatasaray and Mirza Begic of Olympiakos started trading punches, Giorgos Printezis got involved and all of them got expelled from the game and may well face a suspension, although most other players also got involved in the scuffle.
The fans exploded at the stands, hurling coins etc, and it took an appeal by Olympiakos captain Vassilis Spanoulis to calm them down for the last three minutes of the game to be played.
Besides that, Olympiakos also has the injury to Brent Petway in the first half to worry about.
Bryant Dunston was the top scorer for the Reds with 18 points, while Spanoulis notched up 12.
Also on Thursday Olympiakos announced the signing of Panionios and Greece center Vassilis Kavvadas for the next five years.
in the Eurocup on Wednesday Greek teams enjoyed home wins: PAOK overcame Alba Fehervar 68-64, while Panionios defeated Spartak St Petersburg 76-69.
