Karatay Belediyespor delivered a road statement in the Türkiye Basketbol 2. Ligi, defeating Ibb Spor 98-78 on October 24, 2026 behind a relentless perimeter attack and a decisive third-quarter surge.

Karatay never trailed after the opening minutes, but the game turned into a rout only after halftime. The visitors scored 24 points in the third quarter and held Ibb to 21, turning a competitive 49-38 halftime lead into a 73-59 advantage heading into the final period. From there, Karatay's shot-making and transition offense kept the home side at arm's length.

Match overview

Ibb opened with energy and briefly led 12-10, but Karatay closed the first quarter on a 16-8 run to lead 26-20. The second period followed a similar pattern: Karatay moved the ball well against Ibb's zone, hit four three-pointers and took a 49-38 cushion into the locker room.

The third quarter was the breaking point. Karatay opened with a 12-2 run, forced three turnovers in the first four minutes and pushed the lead past 20. Ibb responded with a short burst late in the period, but Karatay's 24-21 edge made it 73-59. The final quarter was played at a comfortable pace for the visitors, who sealed the 98-78 win at the free-throw line.

Key moments

• Karatay's 16-8 run to close the first quarter gave them a lead they never surrendered.
• A 12-2 burst at the start of the third quarter turned a 49-38 halftime advantage into a 61-40 cushion.
• Ibb cut the deficit to 14 midway through the third, but Karatay answered with back-to-back three-pointers.
• In the fourth, Karatay's bench maintained the pace and helped close out the game without a late scare.

Tactical story

Karatay's offensive spacing was excellent. They kept Ibb's defense stretched with shooters on both wings, attacked closeouts off the dribble and found cutters along the baseline when the help defense rotated. The result was a balanced scoring night and a high assist total that reflected their ball movement.

Defensively, Karatay mixed man-to-man pressure with a compact zone that clogged the paint. Ibb found some success on second-chance points, but they struggled to contain Karatay's guards in transition and gave up too many open looks from beyond the arc. The visitors also won the rebound battle in the second half, limiting Ibb's extra possessions.

Standout players

Serkan Aydin led all scorers with 27 points, adding seven rebounds and five assists. Mert Kaya poured in 21 points, including four three-pointers, while Onur Cetinkaya recorded 16 points and 10 rebounds in a strong two-way performance.

For Ibb, Emre Yilmaz scored 19 points and Burak Demir added 14, but the home side could not match Karatay's efficiency over four quarters.

Season impact

The road win strengthens Karatay Belediyespor's position in the Türkiye Basketbol 2. Ligi standings and signals their intent in a competitive promotion race. Scoring 98 points away from home is a confidence boost, particularly with the schedule set to test their depth in the coming weeks.

Ibb Spor, meanwhile, will look to tighten their transition defense and improve their three-point closeouts. The loss leaves them searching for consistency, but the offensive flashes in the second half offer something to build on.