Samara defeated Lokomotiv Kuban at home – 72:71 (20:18, 19:18, 13:7, 20:28).
Game progress
Despite the roster changes, Samara started the game with confidence – a series of steals and blocks combined with made shots helped the hosts win the opening quarter (20:18). Ilia Popov efforts soon brought the score difference to 6 points, after which B.J. Johnson stepped up. Loko forward started an 11:2 run.
After a good stretch, the guests were able to take the lead, but Drazen Anuzlovic team still had the lead at the end of the first half. Hayden Dalton and Aleksandr Gudumak gave the team back before the halftime – 39:36.
Key moment
The break didn’t help the Krasnodar team regain the rhythm in offense, as Loko continued to have poor shooting and scored only 7 points in the third quarter. The hosts took advantage of such performance and first increased lead to 9 points, and after 8 points by Dalton achieved a double-digit lead for the first time in the game – 62:49.
But Loko found the strength to make a comeback. Johnson and Patrick Miller duo scored 18 points and cut the difference to 5 points, and then Karvel Anderson tied the game with 2 long-range shots 8 seconds before the end of regulation.
On the decisive possession, Anton Kardanakhishvili had chance to score free-throws, made only 1 of 2 and brought the team a historic win over Loko.
X-factor
An important reason for Volga team win was defense. The hosts made 14 steals and allowed one of the best offensive teams in the League to score only 71 points.
Facts
Samara beat Lokomotiv Kuban for the first time. The Krasnodar team had won the previous 5 clashes.
Samara was able win in a game with tense ending for the first time in the season. Before that, the Volga team had lost 3 games in the endings, where the difference was 3 points or less.
Anton Kardanakhishvili had career-high 17 points, 6 were made in last possessions. The guard also had his career-high 34 points, 8 assists and 4 steals.
Leaders
Samara: Anton Kardanakhishvili (17 + 8 assists + 6 rebounds), Hayden Dalton (17 + 7 rebounds), Aleksandr Gudumak (14 + 9 rebounds).
Lokomotiv Kuban: B.J. Johnson (29 + 5 rebounds), Patrick Miller (14 + 8 assists + 5 rebounds).
What’s next
Samara: December 9 on the road against Pari Nizhny Novgorod.
Lokomotiv Kuban: December 8 on the road versus Uralmash.
