Benfica defeated Bakken Bears 91-81 on Wednesday evening in Copenhagen. The result came in the FIBA Europe Cup, where the Portuguese side proved just strong enough to take the win. It was a tight contest that separated by ten points in the end.
The loss leaves Bakken Bears in third place after six games. They have two wins and four defeats on their record so far. Benfica's away victory adds another layer to their campaign.
Bakken Bears had been building momentum before this setback. They beat Gladaxse 112-75, Birk Academy 108-84, and Horsens 83-64 in their previous three outings. Benfica's form has been more mixed, with a win over Sporting followed by a heavy defeat to Vechta.
The statistics tell a story of efficiency. Benfica shot 36 from 78 field goals compared to Bakken's 31 from 74. The visitors also found the net from nine of their 21 three-point attempts, while Bakken managed only six from 32. Benfica's free-throw shooting was less reliable at 10 from 14, but it did not matter in the end.
Rebounding was notably different. Bakken pulled down 42 boards to Benfica's 35, with 15 offensive rebounds giving them second-chance opportunities. But Benfica's defence produced six blocks to Bakken's single block, and they forced 15 turnovers while committing only 11 themselves.
It was a match decided by shooting accuracy rather than dominance in other areas. Bakken controlled the glass but could not convert enough possessions into points. Benfica took their chances when they mattered, and that is often how these games are settled.
