CSKA beat Lokomotiv Kuban at home — 94:80 (27:25, 25:16, 25:23, 17:16).
The best scorers
CSKA: Livio Jean-Charles (25 + 10 rebounds), Dejan Davidovac (13), Anton Astapkovic (12 + 5 rebounds + 5 assists), Dallas Moore (12), Casper Ware (4 + 12 assists)
Lokomotiv Kuban: Chris Horton (14), Zakhar Vedishchev (13), Aleksandr Shcherbenev (9 + 8 gears)
Game progress
The Moscow team was undefeated with 16 wins, but before the game with Lokomotiv Kuban became known that Alexey Shved could miss it due to injury. Another CSKA leader Nikola Milutinov did not play in this game too.
Nevertheless, the hosts quickly took the lead. After shooting warm-up, Dejan Davidovac and Livio Jean-Charles provided CSKA with 15:6 lead. Although Loko immediately responded to this with a 6:0 run, the Army team started to play throught the paint and did it well. Kirill Elatontsev and Vladislav Emchenko came of the bench and helped Loko to return to the game — 27:25, CSKA led.
The second quarter began with Ivan Paunic equalizing the score. The Moscow team regained the leadw with defense. Samson Ruzhentsev had a good segment, first made a dunk after own steal and then a three-pointer. A 10:0 run led to CSKA double-digit lead (41:31). Ivan Ukhov and Livio Jean-Charles brought the difference to 15 points. Although Loko managed to reduce the difference, the teams ended the first half with 52:41.
But Lokomotiv still had shrength to play. At the beginning of the second half, the team started to drive in the paint and score. Jaylen Barford was especially active – his game helped Loko to get back and reduce the difference to the minimum – 57:54.
The key moment
But it was the the guests last serious actions. Dejan Davidovac started the CSKA 10-point run with a three-pointer. Anton Astapkovich scored 8 points in a row and became the key player of this segment. CSKA again took a double-digit lead and although the guests managed to reduce it to 9 points, the Army team quickly restored the lead with Jean-Charles or Dallas Moore points. CSKA continued winning streak and now the team has 17 games — in the next game with MBA, the Army team can repeat the League high in wins in a row.
Hero
Livio Jean-Charles. In the leaders absence and Casper Ware had not bright game (only 4 points), the French center was the key player in CSKA offense and had the best game for the Moscow team, scoring more than 20 points for the first time in the season.
Numbers
33 assists by CSKA. Casper Ware did not socre a lot, but made important contribution with 12 assists – the American guard career high in the League.
What’s next
CSKA: road game against MBA on December 23
Lokomotiv Kuban: home game versus PARMA-PARI on December 22
