CSKA defeated MBA in the Moscow Derby – 76:72 (23:16, 22:17, 17:19, 14:20).
Game progress
The teams started the game slowly, taking shots but not scoring high and often losing. CSKA newcomer Amath M’Baye made two straight three-pointers to increase the score 23-16 at the end of the first quarter.
Emil Rajkovic team was able to maintain their lead in the first half, as Casper Ware, Semen Antonov and Melo Trimble made their three-pointers. MBA game was not going their way: Daniil Kasatkin, who took the lead early in the game, missed six straight attempts and allowed the Army team to take a 45-33 lead by the halftime.
MBA has started to score at the beginning of the second half, trying to close the gap, but desire alone was not enough. CSKA coped with the pressure at the start of the third quarter and led by 20. There seemed to be no more intrigue, but Vasily Karasev team hadn’t said its last word yet. Eight straight points from Andrey Lopatin and Kasatkin action – and only 10-point deficit for MBA before the final quarter.
Key moment
MBA kept up the pressure on their opponent. This time the efficiency didn’t let down either: Kasatkin continued to lead the team, scoring 6 points in a short stretch. As a result, the rivals came to a clutch ending with a score difference of only 2 points. However, MBA failed to make a historic comeback: Maksim Barashkov and Kasatkin missed their three-pointers with 10.5 seconds left in the game. M’Baye made 2-of-2 free-throws, and Daniil also missed his last long-range shot – 76:72.
Fact
MBA was close to win after a 20-point deficit in the third quarter. The guests twice missed for the lead in the last 10 seconds of the game after offensive rebounds, but failed to made the shot at the right moment.
Key factor
Daniil Kasatkin was the catalyst for MBA comeback to the game: the Army team couldn’t handle his explosive drives in the paint, which set the tone for the guests’ play. However, the guard failed to become the hero of the game – he missed two key three-pointers in the end, finishing the game with 1 made three-pointers out of 7 attempts.
Leaders
CSKA: Tonye Jekiri (18 points), Amath M’Baye (16 + 8 rebounds), Melo Trimble (15 + 5 assists), Casper Ware (13).
MBA: Daniil Kasatkin (21), Andrey Lopatin (11 + 8 rebounds), Timofey Yakushin (10), Aleksandr Khomenko (10).
Next game
CSKA: October 3 at home against Enisey.
MBA: October 5 on the road against Avtodor.
