Lokomotiv Kuban defeated MINSK on the road — 92:70 (18:16, 28:21, 23:20, 23:13).
The best scorers:
MINSK: Uladzislau Bliznyuk (22), Kirill Sitnik (13), Vadim Stubeda (6 + 11 rebounds)
Lokomotiv Kuban: Andrey Martiuk (22 + 6 rebounds + 4 steals), Jaylen Barford (21 + 6 assists), Darral Willis (14 + 9 rebounds), Ivan Paunic (12), Aleskandr Shcherbenev (12 + 8 assists).
Game progress
Before the game, the Minsk team signed two legionnaires at once — Ognjen Pantovic and Supreme Hannah. In the game with Loko, only Hannah made his debut and he was in the starting five. In the debut, the American looked good, but it seems that his presence motivated his teammates very much. Throughout the first quarter, the hosts played equally with the opponent. Only the individual skill of their legionnaires helped Loko: Darral Willis and Jaylen Barford scored 12 points, which provided Loko with the lead at the end of the starting quarter – 18:16.
In the second quarter, the Krasnodar team shooters finally turned on. Long–range shots by Jaylen Barford, Ivan Paunic and Andrey Martiuk provided the guests with a double-digit lead in the score – 29:16. In total, in the quarter, Loko scored 8 shots from three-point line. Barford succeeded more in this. By the halftime, the American had 5 made three-pointers and 17 points.
But it is worth paying tribute to the hosts. Despite the guests scoring ability, they did not give up. Made shots by Uladzislau Bliznyuk and Vadim Stubeda work in the paint allowed MINSK to keep the intrigue before the second half of the game – 37:46.
at the start of the third quarter, the hosts surprised Loko with his own method. 5 three-pointers by Uladzislau Bliznyuk and Kirill Sitnik allowed the Minsk team to reduce the difference to just 1 shot – 52:55. But here Loko leaders joined in. Willis, Barford and Martiuk returned the guests a comfortable lead before the final quarter – 69:57.
MINSK has no strength left for another comeback. The pace in the game this time was set by the bench players. After made shots by Ivan Paunic and Dmitriy Uzinskiy, Loko’s lead in the middle of the quarter reached reached 20 points — 82:62. Such a difference guaranteed Loko the win.
Hero
Andrey Martiuk was Loko real leader in this game. The forward made 7 of 10 shots from the game, made 6 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists. Martiuk became the best scoring (22 points) and effective (35) player of the game
Numbers
9,727 — so many fans were at the Minsk Arena today. MINSK has updated the season high in attendance, which previously belonged to PARMA-PARI.
What’s next
MINSK: road game versus Enisey on November 24
Lokomotiv Kuban: home game against UNICS on November 25.
