CSKA outpace Loko in Krasnodar with record attendance

CSKA outpace Loko in Krasnodar with record attendance

CSKA beat Lokomotiv-Kuban on the road – 77:71 (13:19, 19:16, 21:21, 24:15). 

Top scorers
Lokomotiv-Kuban: Will Cummings (17), Mantas Kalnietis (17), Mindaugas Kuzminskas (11).

CSKA: Mike James (16), Joel Bolomboy (12 + 7 rebounds), Daniel Hackett (11 + 7 rebounds + 5 assists).

Story
Lokomotiv Kuban (13-5) and CSKA (14-4) are directly competing for the second place in the League. This game was the most important for the both teams at the end of the season. The importance of the result made the game playoff-like. Opponents took actions on their half of the court seriously – 7:7 after 5 minutes of the game. Loko took the initiative step by step via their tough defense on the perimeter (CSKA scored only 3 threes out of 14 and they are second in  league’s three-point percentage) and via the support of the bench. Particularly, Vitaly Fridzon scored 5 points and has become the second player who has reached the 2500 points mark.

At the beginning of the second quarter Loko even had a double-digit lead after two threes by Will Cummings (27:17, 31:21) but then CSKA set up a tough defense and with accurate shots by Joel Bolomboy, Daniel Hackett and Mike James, they shortened the difference down to 3 points – 35:32.

Third quarter was balanced, at the game story hasn’t changed. CSKA managed to equal the score (51:51) but accurate free throws and drive-in by Cummings helped Loko enter the last quarter with a 3-point lead (56:53).

Game smoothly turned up to the ending, where CSKA started taking theirs with famous defense and James. It took Loko a lot of time to score 10 points in the last quarter and this happened on 2 minutes and 44 seconds before the buzzer with a three-pointer by Mindaugas Kuzminskas. At this moment CSKA were up by 9 (72:63): Mike James who was hard-to-see, scored from behind the arc and another 2-pointer within only 32 seconds, and Kyle Hines scored 5 points

Key moment
Loko’s situation was complicated by Cummings’ injury, after that Krasnodar switched on 3-pointers. One of these makes by Mantas Kalnietis brought an extreme intrigue to the game – 69:72 with 53 seconds left. In further offensive possession James drew a foul and made 2 free throws cold-blooded (74:69). Loko had almost no chance to save themselves even considering successful drive by Fridzon and Johannes Voigtmann miss in one of tactical charity stripe shots (75:71). Taking offensive rebounds Kuban created space for three-point attempt for Johnny O’Bryant, but it wasn’t prepared well: the shot was way of the mark. The Red-blues kept the advantage and via this win settled on the second spot in standings.

Hero
Mike James. The American wasn’t most efficient or valuable player in CSKA roster but he became a hero. Hitting only 4 out of 17 field goals James became the top scorer (16 points) in the winner’s roster, scored 8 points during decisive minutes.

Stat
7304 – this is the amount of spectators that visited the game at Basket Hall. It’s this season record.

Next
Lokomotiv-Kuban: March 12 vs Kalev
CSKA: March 16 at Khimki