CSKA defeated VEF on the road, 99-83 (23-20, 31-30, 25-10, 20-23)
Top Scorers
VEF: Martins Meiers (17+8 reb), Kristopher Richard (15+7 ast), Mareks Mejeris (15), Armands Skele (13), Ilya Gromovs (11+6 reb)
CSKA: Cory Higgins (19+4 reb+5 ast), Kyle Hines (19+6 reb), Milos Teodosic (17+6 ast), Nikita Kurbanov (17+5 reb)
Build-Up
Despite playing without leading scorer Janis Blums, VEF hung around for 20 minutes. The home team started the game 5-9 from beyond the arc and led early in the 2nd quarter, 31-30. At halftime, the Latvians only trailed by four, 54-50, thanks to a jumper from Kristopher Richard in the final seconds.
Turning Point
The game didn’t stay close for long. CSKA played efficient basketball from start to finish, only committing eight turnovers in the game. Once the three-point shot stopped going in for VEF, the Army Men quickly took control, surging to a 15-point lead in the opening minutes of the second half.
Leading by 19 at the end of the 3rd quarter, CSKA had little trouble closing out the win.
Moscow improves to a League-best 18-2. VEF drops to 8-9, tied with Enisey and Astana in 6th place.
Stars
Kyle Hins and Cory Higgins. The American duo finished with a game-high 19 points apiece, picking up the slack on offense with Nando De Colo missing the trip to Riga.
They also contributed in other areas of the game, combining for 10 rebounds, seven assists and three steals.
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Up Next
VEF: March 18 vs. Astana
CSKA: March 27 at Khimki
