LIONS RALLY LATE TO BEAT VENICE 80-76 IN EUROCUP THRILLER

London, Tuesday 10 November 2026 — London Lions produced a huge fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Umana Reyer Venice 80-76 at the Copper Box Arena, improving to 4-3 in the 2026-27 BKT EuroCup.

Trailing by as many as 10 points in the fourth quarter, London responded with a decisive 12-0 run to turn the game around and secure an important home victory despite a limited roster.

Thomas Kennedy led the Lions with 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists, delivering a crucial performance on both ends of the floor. Landrius Horton added 15 points, including three three-pointers, while Maxwell Lewis III and Joel Scott each finished with 14 points. Scott also collected five rebounds.

The opening quarter was evenly contested, with neither side able to establish a significant advantage as the teams finished level at 19-19.

Venice began to find its rhythm from beyond the arc in the second quarter, moving ahead 28-22. However, London responded with Ethan Price's scoring before Horton's three-pointer put the Lions in front, 32-30. 

Scott extended the advantage, and despite Venice briefly drawing level, London carried a 38-35 lead into half-time.

The Lions maintained their advantage through much of the third quarter, with Lewis and Deane Williams contributing offensively. 

Venice threatened late in the period, but Joshua O'Garro's second-chance basket helped London take a 59-55 lead into the final quarter.

The momentum shifted dramatically as Venice opened the fourth with 14 unanswered points, turning London's four-point advantage into a 10-point deficit at 69-59 with 6:41 remaining.

Scott ended the scoring drought before adding free throws to bring London back within six. Venice briefly restored its advantage, but the Lions began to find their rhythm defensively and capitalise on opportunities at the other end.

Lewis knocked down a three-pointer after a Venice turnover, then Kennedy converted a steal into two points, bringing London within four. After Venice extended its lead to 74-68, the Lions began their decisive response.

Kennedy scored inside to make it 74-70 before Williams came up with a steal that led to Lewis' three-pointer, cutting the deficit to 74-73 with 1:57 remaining.

With the Copper Box Arena behind them, the Lions continued to apply pressure. After Venice missed from beyond the arc, Kennedy secured an offensive rebound and finished inside with 1:17 remaining to put London ahead 75-74.

The Lions never looked back. Following another defensive stop, Horton knocked down a huge three-pointer with 33 seconds remaining, extending the lead to 78-74. 

Scott then secured a defensive rebound and converted both free throws to complete the 12-0 run and give London its largest lead of the night at 80-74. Venice added a final basket, but the Lions had done enough to close out the 80-76 victory.

Following the game, head coach Tautvydas Sabonis highlighted the character his team showed amid the challenges of injuries and a shortened rotation.

"It's a very big win when you have a lot of adversity, a lot of injuries, and guys still believe, and guys execute," said Sabonis. "This shows that we have a very tough character and are tough mentally."

Kennedy echoed that mentality, emphasising the importance of building on the result rather than looking too far ahead.

"We're not going to look too far ahead, we're not even going to look into the past. It's a win, and now we're going to try and keep this momentum," said Kennedy.

The result moves London to 4-3 in EuroCup Group B, with the Lions taking another important step in their European campaign.