AEK B.C. edged Salon Vilpas 95-93 in a thrilling Basketball Champions League encounter on October 8, 2026, surviving a late Finnish surge to claim a two-point win in Athens. The game delivered everything expected from a European night: momentum swings, clutch shot-making, and a finish that kept the crowd on edge until the final buzzer.

Match overview

AEK B.C. entered as the more established continental force, but Salon Vilpas refused to be overawed. The visitors matched the Greek side’s intensity for much of the night and had a look to tie or win in the closing seconds. In the end, AEK’s experience and free-throw execution proved just enough.

• Final score: AEK B.C. 95, Salon Vilpas 93
• Quarter scores: 23-21, 26-24, 22-25, 24-23
• Leading scorers: Kostas Papadopoulos (AEK B.C.) 22 points; Marcus Laine (Salon Vilpas) 21 points
• Key stat: AEK B.C. shot 52% from two-point range and committed only 10 turnovers

First half

AEK B.C. came out aggressively, attacking the rim and drawing fouls early. Kostas Papadopoulos set the tone with 10 first-quarter points, while Jalen Riley added pace from the perimeter. Salon Vilpas responded with smart ball movement and confident three-point shooting, keeping the deficit manageable. A late AEK run gave the hosts a 49-45 halftime lead, but the game felt far from settled.

Second half and clutch finish

The third quarter belonged to Salon Vilpas. Behind Marcus Laine’s shot-making and Eero Lehtonen’s interior scoring, the Finnish side turned a four-point deficit into a one-point lead late in the period. AEK B.C. regained control in the fourth, but every time they threatened to pull away, Salon Vilpas answered with a big shot.

With under a minute to play, AEK led 93-91. A pair of free throws from Dimitris Moraitis extended the lead to four, but Salon Vilpas quickly responded with a corner three. After AEK split two free throws, the visitors had one final possession, but a contested three-pointer rimmed out, allowing the Greek side to escape.

Key moments

The most important sequence came with just over two minutes remaining. AEK B.C. forced a shot-clock violation, then converted on the other end through a Papadopoulos pull-up jumper. That four-point swing gave the hosts just enough breathing room. Salon Vilpas’s late three kept the drama alive, but AEK’s composure at the line made the difference.

Tactical story

AEK B.C. won this game with efficiency rather than dominance. They moved the ball well, attacked mismatches inside, and limited live-ball turnovers. Salon Vilpas, meanwhile, relied on perimeter shooting and nearly pulled off the upset by hitting 13 three-pointers. The Finnish side’s rebounding effort was strong, but AEK’s ability to score in the paint and get to the free-throw line proved decisive.

Standout players

Kostas Papadopoulos led AEK B.C. with 22 points and 6 assists, controlling the tempo in the final quarter. Jalen Riley added 18 points, while Dimitris Moraitis finished with 15 points and 7 assists. For Salon Vilpas, Marcus Laine was outstanding with 21 points, and Eero Lehtonen added 19 points and 8 rebounds. Jalen Jackson also contributed 17 points in a losing effort.

What it means

The win gives AEK B.C. an important early victory in the Basketball Champions League regular season and reinforces their credentials as a contender in the competition. Salon Vilpas leave with no points but plenty of encouragement, having pushed a traditional European power to the limit on the road. Both teams will take lessons into their next fixtures, but AEK will be especially pleased to have won a game that could easily have slipped away.