Milano 87-85 Virtus: Devon Hall's last seven settle it at Unipol Forum

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Sixteen offensive rebounds. That is the number that decided a Euroleague night at Unipol Forum, where EA7 Emporio Armani Milano edged Virtus Bologna 87-85 on the game's final field goal. Second chances built the lead — and, in the end, they saved it.

Milano set the tone early: 30-20 in the opening quarter, a cushion that grew to 15 points. Virtus kept chipping away — their best run stretched to nine straight points, Milano's peaked at seven — and took the second quarter 21-17, then the third 26-19 to edge in front 67-66 after thirty minutes. Even then, Virtus's biggest lead of the entire night was just three.

The final ten minutes swung back to the hosts, 21-18, but not without a scare. Bobi Klintman's three tied it at 80-80. Marcus Joshua Carr buried another from deep for 80-83, Virtus's largest advantage of the game. Devon Hall answered with a drive, 82-83, then a three, 85-83. Aliou Diarra levelled it at 85-85 — and Hall struck again, 87-85, the last points on the board. Milano had spent 28:57 in front to Virtus's 6:05, yet still needed every one of Hall's late buckets.

Hall finished with 12 points on 57% shooting, seven of them in that closing sequence. Marko Gudurić topped all scorers with 14, Darius Thompson added 12, and Moses Wright posted 11 points and seven rebounds on 80% from the field. Virtus got 12 from Wendell Moore Jr. and 10 points with nine assists from Carr, and even out-passed Milano 20-12 in assists.

Virtus moved the ball better and protected it better. Milano simply wanted the ball off the rim more — and that was the whole game.