Samara defeated MINSK – 79:68 (24:15, 14:18, 28:14, 13:21).
Game progress
Samara started the game with a 7:0 run, after Aleksandr Gudumak and Nikola Rebic made shots the difference reached 11 points by the middle of the first quarter. However, the hosts failed to extend their lead. Samara sharpshooters lost their aim, and Drazen Anzulovic team can’t score any three-pointer in 12 minutes. MINSK scored a lot in the second quarter and cut the difference to 5 points – 33:38.
Key moment
MINSK took the lead for the first time at the start of the second half – 39:38, but that was the end of the Belarusian team output in the third quarter. The guests scored only 6 points in almost 9 minutes, but let opponents scored 27. Samara bigmen dominated in rebounds, increasing the score difference with second-chance points. The hosts confidently got the win and moved up to 6th place in the standings.
X-factor
With the team’s sharpshooters not having their best game (22.7%), Samara’s frontcourt became the key: the bigmen made 14 offensive rebounds in 3 quarters, which gave the hosts new chances to score points (18 more shots from the game).
Fact
James Thompson made his third double-double of the season. Royce Hamm leads the League with 5.
Leaders
Samara: Javontae Hawkins (16 + 7 rebounds), Justin Roberson (14 + 5 rebounds + 5 assists), Nikola Rebic (12 + 5 assists), James Thompson (11 + 10 rebounds), Aleksandr Gudumak (10 points).
MINSK: Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson (15 + 6 assists), Grigory Motovilov (12 + 5 assists)
What’s next
Samara (9-8): December 20 at home against MBA
MINSK (0-17): December 21 on the road versus UNICS.
