PARMA defeated Astana on the road – 86:76 OT (15:21, 14:19, 22:23, 20:8, 15:5).
Game progress
Astana started the game very strong. Roman Marchuk, Royce Hamm and Carvel Anderson three-pointers gave the hosts an 11:2 lead. The Perm team got back into the game only after Evgeny Pashutin timeout. The guests cut the difference to a minimum at the start of the second quarter – 20:21.
Markell Johnson stopped PARMA comeback. Astana guard had an impactful stretch, both on defense and offense. Johnson accurate three-pointer ended the second quarter, and the hosts had a double-digit lead – by the halftime – 40:29.
Key moment
Until the middle of the final quarter, the hosts confidently controlled the game. B.J. Johnson decided to add intrigue to the game. The Perm team began to cut the deficit, and C.J. Bryce helped to convert the game into overtime – 71:71.
In the overtime, the guests demoralized the Kazakh team. Aggressive defense and B.J. Johnson allowed the Perm team to take the lead and bring the game to the win.
X-factor
Throughout 3 quarters, the guests couldn’t stop the opposing leaders. But at a key moment, the defense became the key factor in PARMA win. Astana scored only 13 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. At the end of regulation and the beginning of overtime, the Perm team held the opponents from scoring for 6 minutes.
Fact
Astana got 4th straight loss, but PARMA regained its winning rhythm aftef 2 lost games. The Perm team is new close to Enisey.
Royce Hamm made his 6th double-double of the season, while Devin Davis and Markell Johnson had their 5th double-doubles. Astana leaders are second only to Uralmash center Octavius Ellis (7 double-doubles).
Parma forward B.J. Johnson scored more than 30 points for the fourth time this season. Only Xavier Rathan-Mayes (7 games) has done it more.
Leaders
Astana: Markell Johnson (18 + 10 assists), Royce Hamm (18 + 12 rebounds), Devin Davis (14 + 12 rebounds), Carvel Anderson (12).
PARMA: B.J. Johnson (33 + 7 rebounds), C.J. Bryce (18), Richard Solomon (10 + 9 rebounds), Stanislav Ilnitskiy (4 + 11 rebounds).
What’s next
Astana (8-13): January 14 on the road versus Uralmash
PARMA (11-10): January 13 on the road against UNICS.
