Karditsa defeats Aris 74-68 behind 19 points from Francis in Greek Basket League opener

Early Aris advantage and second-quarter fightback

Karditsa opened the 2026 Greek Basket League season at the Giannis Bourousis arena with a 74-68 victory over Aris on Saturday. The visitors started the contest in command, moving ahead 10-3 inside the first four minutes behind early baskets from Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Morgan. Karditsa responded through consecutive dunks by Jackson, but Aris controlled the paint defensively and closed the opening period leading 20-12. Aris widened that advantage to 22-12 early in the second quarter following a dunk from Liddell off rapid ball movement. Karditsa then mounted a 12-0 scoring run led by McRae and Jackson to take a 24-22 lead by the 14th minute. Following tactical adjustments from Aris head coach Vassilis Spanoulis, the visitors regained a 35-31 edge in the 18th minute with contributions from Mokoka, Robinson-Earl, and Liddell. Francis scored four consecutive points in the final minute of the first half to send both teams into the locker rooms level at 35-35.

Balanced third quarter and defensive battle

The third quarter remained tightly contested throughout, featuring seven lead changes and three ties as neither team established a cushion larger than three points. Turner and Francis led the offensive output for Karditsa, while Robinson-Earl and Vassilis Toliopoulos paced the visitors. Robinson-Earl reached the 20-point mark during the period, creating offensive options for Aris alongside Liddell. Turner generated a four-point advantage for Karditsa at 55-51 before Liddell responded to bring the score back to level terms. McRae converted in the closing moments of the frame to give the home side a narrow 57-55 edge entering the fourth quarter.

Decisive fourth-quarter execution

The final period stayed close as both squads traded baskets, reaching a 64-64 tie in the closing minutes. Karditsa found consistent perimeter and interior scoring through McRae, Francis, and Turner during critical late possessions. The home team generated an eight-point cushion at 74-66 with 1:39 remaining on the clock, their largest advantage of the entire contest. Aris attempted a late recovery through perimeter attempts, but missed three-point shots from Robinson-Earl and Toliopoulos sealed the outcome. Karditsa held on through the final minute to secure the six-point win in front of their home supporters, while roughly 500 traveling Aris fans watched the Thessaloniki side fall short.

Statistical breakdown and individual contributions

Francis led the scoring for Karditsa with 19 points on 7-of-8 two-point shooting and 5-of-6 free throws, alongside 9 rebounds. McRae added 17 points, 3 rebounds, and one assist, while Turner contributed 11 points and 4 assists. Smith registered 8 points and 8 rebounds, and playmaker Nikos Gkikas contributed 9 assists, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals without scoring. Karditsa finished the game with 38 rebounds, including 11 offensive boards, alongside 20 assists, 13 steals, 5 blocks, and 18 turnovers. Aris struggled with offensive efficiency, committing between 21 and 22 turnovers while shooting 5-of-22 from three-point range and 16-of-36 on two-point attempts. Robinson-Earl led all scorers with 25 points and 8 rebounds, while Liddell was the only other Aris player in double figures with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting. Toliopoulos finished with 5 points on 1-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc.