Lokomotiv Kuban defeated MBA at home and got the first win of the season – 79:71 (19:21, 18:22, 20:15, 22:13)

Game progress
Despite their guests status, MBA played the first half like at home. After handling Loko’s initial possessions, the Moscow team took a 4-point lead by the end of the first quarter. Maksim Barashkov actions and a generally higher shooting percentage from the field helped Vasily Karasev team take a 7-8 point lead several times in the second quarter. MBA led by the halftime – 43:37.

However, Aleksander Sekulich made some significant adjustments to the Krasnodar team game. Loko started to go into the paint. With MBA lack of points scoring, the hosts managed to get back into the game and even take the lead. Still, MBA was stronger at the end of the quarter – the same Barashkov made a three-pointer to set the final score of the third quarter (58:57).

Key moment
The teams played the final quarter of the game cautiously, trying to minimize the risk. Even 4 minutes before the end of the game the score was tied – 65:65. Still, Lokomotiv Kuban had more energy left for the end. Okaro White made free-throws and Jordan Morgan drive started a 10-2 run that decided the game result – despite Evgeniy Minchenko, who made a double-double and scored 6 points in the end. The Krasnodar team get their first win of the season.

Key factor
While Jaylen Barford continues to have troubles with scoring, his mission to score points was successfully taken over by Aleksandr Scherbenev. He became Loko’s third best scoring player and was especially successful at the free-throw line ( 9 out of 10 shots).

Fact
Although Vladislav Emchenko clearly had a poor offensive game (2 out of 9), he managed to claim for a triple-double in 22 minutes, adding 8 rebounds and 7 assists to his 5 points.

Leaders
Lokomotiv Kuban: Jordan Morgan (16 + 5 rebounds), Okaro White (14 + 5 rebounds), Aleksandr Scherbenev (13), Jaylen Barford (10 + 5 assists), Vladislav Emchenko (5 + 8 rebounds + 7 assists)
MBA: Evgeniy Minchenko (18 + 10 rebounds), Maksim Barashkov (14 + 5 rebounds), Makar Konovalov (13).

What’s next
Lokomotiv Kuban: October 15 on the road against Uralmash.
MBA: October 14 at home against Samara