MBA defeated Avtodor in a regular season game on the road – 87:73 (21:21, 29:21, 26:16, 11:15).
Game progress
MBA lost to CSKA in the first game in a tense end, while Avtodor lost to the League newcomer Runa. Both teams had the motivation to get their first win of the new season.
At the beginning of the game, the rivals played a power basketball with plenty of fouls. The Saratov team played on equally with MBA for most of the first half with Kyle Vinales help. Vasily Karasev team was able to get away only at the end of the second quarter. Timofey Yakushin scored 8 points in a row and gave the guests a lead before the halftime – 50:42.
Key moment
The beginning of the third quarter was the defining moment of the game. In the first 3 minutes MBA made a 16:4 run. Evgeniy Valiev and Evgeniy Minchenko scored 11 of the 16 points. Avtodor, led by Vinales, tried to organise a comeback, but Evgeniy Voronov shots kept the score comfortable until the end.
Key factor
The Moscow team won with the help of a wide rotation. MBA bench players scored 46 points, while Avtodor benchers were only able to score 14.
Fact
Minchenko played in Avtodor last season, so today’s game was especially important for him. MBA center looked confident and set a season high in blocks – 6.
Leaders
Avtodor: Dominic Mavra (18), Kyle Vinales (17 + 5 assists), Sinderius Thornwell (12 + 9 rebounds), Dusan Beslac (11 + 5 rebounds).
MBA: Makar Konovalov (13 + 6 rebounds + 7 assists), Evgeniy Valiev (12), Evgeniy Voronov (12), Evgeniy Minchenko (11 + 6 blocked shots), Aleksandr Khomenko (11), Timofey Yakushin (10).
What’s next
Avtodor: October 9 on the road against Uralmash
MBA: October 9 on the road versus Lokomotiv Kuban.
