Samara defeated MBA on the road despite a 16-point hosts comeback – 77:65 (21:18, 19:16, 17:22, 20:9)
Game progress
Samara started the game with a 13:4 run, but Evgeniy Minchenko actions let the hosts to cut the difference. Despite that, Drazen Anzulovic team made another run that could have been a knockout: after Nikola Rebic long-range shot, the difference was 16 points (37:21). Once again, MBA did not give up and responded with a 13-0 run. As a result, Samara lead was down to 6 points by the halftime.
MBA momentum continued in the third quarter. Despite the fact that Samara had a 10-point lead once again , the Moscow team not only managed to cut the deficit, but also got the lead. By the start of the final quarter, Samara led by one point – 57:56.
Key moment
Still, the relentless pursuit drained MBA energy. Nikola Rebic and Javontae Hawkins made three-pointers to help Samara take the lead, then Justin Roberson scored 6 points in a row, and Hawkins’ final three-pointer put an end to MBA attempts to get back in the game – 75:63 with a 1.5 minute left. Samara beat MBA for the first time in the United League.
Key factor
Javontae Hawkins made more three-pointers than in the previous three games. And 3 of his 4 made shots came on Samara key run in the fourth quarter.
Fact
Samara continues to have the best three-point shooting percentage. Without UNICS and Astana, who played one game each, only Samara currently made over 40% from long-range shots. That was the deciding factor against MBA, as Samara made 10 of 18 long-range shots (55.8%).
Leaders
MBA: Andrey Lopatin (15 + 5 rebounds), Evgeny Minchenko (11), Vladislav Trushkin (10 + 5 rebounds), Makar Konovalov (10).
Samara: Justin Roberson (17 + 5 rebounds), Javontae Hawkins (12), James Thompson (11 + 6 rebounds), Aleksandr Gudumak (10 + 8 rebounds), Nikola Rebic (10).
What’s next
MBA: October 17 on the road versus Zenit
Samara: October 19 on the road against MINSK
