CSKA Moscow beats Fenerbahce, ends Euroleague in 3rd position

CSKA Moscow held off a second-half rally by Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul to record an 80-86 victory in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Third-Place Game on Sunday evening at Barclaycard Center in Madrid. Both teams put in spirited efforts less than 48 hours after losing their semifinal games at the Final Four. Nando De Colo came off the bench to lead CSKA with 17 points, Demetris Nichols added 14 points and Aaron Jackson tallied 12 points and 6 assists as CSKA finished the season with a 26-4 record. Andrew Goudelock paced Fenerbahce with 24 points, Euroleague MVP Nemanja Bjelica tallied 18 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals and Nikos Zisis contributed 12 points and 6 assists in defeat. CSKA opened the game with a 2-16 run, and needed less than eight minutes to open a 20-point lead. After Goudelock strung together 3 three-pointers for Fenerbahce late in the first quarter, CSKA did not allow a field goal for more than seven minutes to start the second quarter and cruised to 24-48 halftime lead. CSKA opened as big as a 28-point margin in the third but Bjelica and Goudelock rallied Fenerbahce in the third, and Semih Erden joined in the fourth. A Zisis triple completed the comeback and tied it at 70-70 with under six minutes to play, but CSKA recovered in time and a big three by Nichols and late free throws iced the win.