Manchester basketball club stuns Würzburg in Champions League qualifying upset
Manchester Basketball pulled off a surprise 74:73 win over Germany's Würzburg in FIBA Champions League qualifying, advancing to the next round.
An unexpected result unfolded in FIBA Champions League qualifying as England's Manchester Basketball defeated Germany's Würzburg Baskets 74:73, eliminating the German side from the competition.
Würzburg started strongly, leading 17:11 after the first quarter, but the momentum shifted entirely in Manchester's favor from that point on. The British side built a lead of as much as 16 points by the end of the third quarter. In the final ten minutes, Würzburg showed resilience, clawing back from a 13-point deficit (52:65) and even retaking the lead 73:72 with just 13 seconds remaining.
However, the decisive moment came from British national team player Luke Nelson, who drew a foul and converted both free throws to secure the win for Manchester. Würzburg's final possession failed to produce a basket.
American guard Keon Thompson led the winners with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists. For Würzburg, Sam Griffin top-scored with 26 points, but it wasn't enough to prevent the loss.
Spanish opponent awaits
On Thursday, Manchester will face Spain's Lugo Breogán, who thrashed Bulgaria's Rilski Sportist Samokov 126:80 in their previous match. Several Breogán players scored in double figures, including Francisco Alonso and Danko Branković, who each contributed 19 points.
Notably, Manchester's upcoming opponent — and Riga VEF's next Champions League qualifying rival, Dziki Warszawa — reached the European North Basketball League final in spring, where the Polish club claimed the title.
