Bologna, Italy – Sophomore Reid Travis scored 19 points and collected 14 rebounds to lead four players in double-figures in scoring for the Cardinal in a 75-63 setback to one of Italy’s top professional teams, Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna Thursday evening in Bologna, Italy.
Junior Marcus Allen scored 16, while senior Rosco Allen and sophomore Dorian Pickens added 10 apiece for the Cardinal.
“I was encouraged by what I saw out there tonight,” said Stanford head men’s basketball coach Johnny Dawkins. “We played against a very good professional team. I thought our guys really did a good job of competing. Marcus [Allen], Rosco [Allen] and Reid [Travis] all had moments of really strong play. Now, we need to build on this experience. We will continue to get better as we go forward.”
Virtus Bologna is one of Italy’s top professional teams, playing in the Serie A. The Lega Basket Serie A is the first-tier level club competition in Italian professional basketball where play determines the national champion.
Stanford jumped out to an early 18-14 lead a little more the two minutes into the second quarter, when play was abruptly suspended as one of the glass backboards shattered. Virtus’ Dexter Pittman went up for a dunk attempt and Cardinal freshman Josh Sharma was there for the block to send the ball back. Pittman’s forward motion forced his hands to grab the rim and the backboard shattered.
The teams were forced to change the venue of the contest, traveling about 15 minutes to another area in Bologna. Play continued about an hour later at the new facility as Stanford pushed its lead to 38-27 at the half.
Virtus Bologna used a 27-point third quarter to storm back and take a 54-50 lead. The play of former United States college standouts now playing professionally with Virtus Bologna – Allan Ray (13), Dexter Pittman (19), Rod Odom (11) and Abdul Gaddy (9) – helped extend their lead in the beginning of the fourth quarter.
The Cardinal used six-straight points by Travis at one point to chip away and pull within five points with under two minutes to play.
Virtus Bologna held off the Cardinal at the end though to pull out the victory.
Stanford travels to Pesaro on Friday, with its next game coming on Saturday in Jesi, Italy against Fileni BPA Jesi.