Devon Dotson Leads Besiktas to 99–74 Win Over Merkezefendi
Dotson fuels a decisive second-half surge
Besiktas picked up a convincing 99–74 victory over Merkezefendi in Round 21, with Devon Dotson steering the charge. The hosts looked steady early on and went into halftime holding a 46–38 lead after building momentum in the second quarter.
The second half was where Besiktas turned the game into a rout. They ramped up the pressure and opened a 16-point cushion before the fourth quarter, then closed it out by holding Merkezefendi to just 12 points in the final period.
Dotson finished a standout night with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists. Vitto Brown added 15 points, while Anthony Brown and Ismael Kamagate chipped in 12 apiece; Kamagate also pulled down 11 rebounds. On the other side, Sam Griffin led Merkezefendi with 20 points and 4 rebounds.
Standings and coaching notes
This win brings Besiktas level with Fenerbahce at the top of the table with 18 wins each, though Fenerbahce still have one extra game to play and could reclaim first place soon. Besiktas and Fenerbahce remain the main favorites as the league heads into the final stretch.
Besiktas coach Dusan Alimpijevic was absent from the bench due to a suspension carried over from the Turkish Cup Final and will miss the team’s next league fixture as well. Alimpijevic also serves as head coach of the Serbian national team and recently led them through two tough losses against Turkey, but his club side continues to perform strongly this season.
After a complete team effort and a big night from Dotson, Besiktas will look to keep the momentum going as the title race tightens up.
