MBA won the first game at home in the second stage against Pari Nizhny Novgorod — 71:67 (18:15, 23:22, 18:18, 12:12).
Game progress
The game was important for Pari NN as in case of win, the team guaranteed the 4th place in the regular season. But in any case, MBA did not rise above the 6th place, but the Moscoow team had no less serious motivation – to end an 8-game losing streak.
For most of the first quarter, Pari Nizhny Novgorod had the control of the game, but at the end the Moscow team provoked the guests to foul several times and took the lead – 18:15. The beginning of the second quarter became discouraging for the guests. Makar Konovalov and Mark Tikhonenko brought MBA lead to 8 points. However, Nizhny quickly equalized with an 8-0 run. Until the end of the first half, the game leader changed couple times, but by the halfitme MBA scored 5 points and end the quarter as a leader – 41:37.
Jermaine Love started the second half with 7 points in a row, Pari NN equalised. However, Daniil Aksenov and Mark Tikhonenko helped the hosts to get a double-digit lead for the first time in the game – 59:49.
Key moment
Although MBA had the lead for the entire fourth quarter, the ending was hot. 2.5 minutes before the end of regulation, Jermaine Love reduced the difference to 4 points (70:66), and then Evgeny Voronov made a turnover. The Moscow team still was able to keep the score. Love shot became the last made one by both teams: in the remaining time, the opponents only scored free-throws.
MBA wins its first game in the second stage of the regular season.
Key factor
Although the game was not very resultative, MBA shooters have made almost half of the three-pointers (10 out of 21). The guests had only 6 of 24.
Fact
Despite Evgeny Valiev, Daniil Kasatkin and Aleksandr Khomenko absence due to injuries, MBA was still able to end the losing streak. It began just with a major lose against Pari NN on January 19. The last MBA win was exactly 2 months ago, when the Moscow team beat Zenit.
Leaders
MBA: Makar Konovalov (14), Evgeny Voronov (13), Timofey Yakushin (12 + 8 rebounds), Daniil Aksenov (11 + 5 assists)
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: Jermaine Love (19), Dragan Apic (12 + 12 rebounds), Ivan Strebkov (11)
Next games
MBA: home game against Zenit on March 22
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: road game versus CSKA on March 22
