Samara defeated MBA at home – 85:77 (25:20, 23:18, 15:20, 22:19).
Game progress
From the first minutes, the game was tight. The Moscow team took the lead, but the hosts quickly equalized the situation. For a long time there was no clear leader. The guests made three-pointers, Samara scored a lot of points on fast break layups and second-chance. Only at the end of the second quarter, Samara manage to pull away. Aggressive defense and Aleksandr Gudumak 16 points in the first half allowed the hosts to have a double-digit lead by the halftime – 48:38.
Early in the third quarter, Gudumak set a career-high, and Samara lead reached 15 points at some point – 55:40. It looked like the Volga team would easily finish off the opponent, but that didn’t happen. The Moscow team got a second chance when Makar Konovalov enter into the game. His three-pointers started MBA comeback. At the start of the final quarter, the guests deficit was only 2points – 61:63.
Key moment
Hayden Dalton was the hero of the ending. His three-pointer started Samara run with a minimal score difference. After his another three-pointer, the Volga team lead was already 7 points – 79:72. The hosts didn’t let the advantage get away and got the win.
X-factor
Aleksandr Gudumak justified the captain status. He had excellent game in key moments. The forward made 9 of 16 shots from the field, scored career-high 25 points.
Fact
Samara became the last team in the League, which won a place in the Playoffs. The Volga team received the 8th seed and will face UNICS in the Quarterfinals.
Samara managed to end MBA winning streak. Beofre this game, the Moscow team was undefeated for 11 games.
Samara reaches the Playoffs for the first time in only the second year in the VTB League.
Leaders
Samara: Aleksandr Gudumak (25 + 5 rebounds), Hayden Dalton (18 + 8 rebounds), Javontae Hawkins (11), Nikola Rebic (10 + 5 assists).
MBA: Makar Konovalov (17), Vladislav Trushkin (14).
What’s next
Samara: April 23 on the road against UNICS.
MBA: season is over.
