Lokomotiv Kuban defeated Samara on the road – 96:69 (20:21, 29:19, 25:7, 22:22).
Game progress
Despite roster problems, Samara started the game with confidence and took a lead – 21:20. At the start of the second quarter, the Krasnodar team attempted to get a slight lead with Vladislav Emchenko efforts. But Egor Amosov had 12 points in the first half and did not let Loko to increase the lead at all. The game leader changed several times, but Mikhail Vedischev helped Loko to get a 9:0 run and 9-point lead by halftime – 49:40.
Key moment
The guests also controlled the start of the second half. Andrei Martiuk and Antonius Cleveland helped to gain double-digit difference for the first time in the game (56:40). The Volga team offense fell apart and missed long range shots turned into fastbreaks by the guests. After Aleksandr Gudumak fastbreak dunk, the difference was 20 points and Samara had no energy left for a comeback.
The Krasnodar team had confident last quarter and got the win.
X-factor
An important reason for Loko was aggressive defense. The Krasnodar team forced the opponent to make 19 turnovers and made 8 blocks (0 by the opponent). In addition, the guests let score only 29 points in the second half.
Facts
Samara young players Ivan Kasyanov (3 points + 4 rebounds) and Nikita Shvechikhin (2 points) scored their first points in the VTB United League.
Samara dropped to 11th place in the standings after the loss to Loko.
Loko flew to Samara less than a day before the start of the game due to snowfall in St. Petersburg, but it did not prevent the team from getting huge win.
Leaders
Samara: Mikhail Kulagin (13), Egor Amosov (12 + 7 rebounds), Ilia Popov (10 + 9 rebounds)
Lokomotiv Kuban: Antonius Cleveland (14 + 6 assists), Vladislav Emchenko (13 + 6 rebounds), Isaiah Whaley (13), Aleksandr Gudumak (11), Patrick Miller (10 + 5 steals).
What’s next
Samara: January 19 on the road versus UNICS
Lokomotiv Kuban: January 19 on the road against CSKA.
