Uralmash defeated Samara at home – 80:69 (18:17, 23:19, 25:10, 14:23).
Game progress
The start of the game was equal. In the second quarter, Uralmash began to take the lead with Stanley Whittaker help. However, the hosts couldn’t get a comfortable difference and a few seconds before the halftime, Rade Zagorac made a drive in the paint to set the final score of the first half – 41:36.
The third quarter started with the Yekaterinburg team run. Whittaker and Octavius Ellis began to break the opponent defenses.Uralmash took a 14-point lead after 2 consecutive three-pointers by Whittaker and by the final quarter had a 20-point lead – 66:46.
Key moment
Samara had nothing to lose and tried to make a comeback at the start of the fourth quarter. However, Ellis and Whittaker returned the hosts a comfortable lead everytime. The Yekaterinburg team allowed the opponents to avoid a major loss only in the end of the game.
Uralmash moves into the Playoffs from 7th place and will face Zenit, while Samara still has to face the winner of the Avtodor vs. MBA game.
X-factor
Rostislav Vergun tried an ultra-short rotation in this game – 7 players took part in this game, not counting Ivan Pynko, who had 2 minutes. This strategy proved to work – Uralmash starting five scored as many points as the entire opposing team (69).
Fact
Uralmash made the Playoffs in its first season in the United League.
Stanley Whittaker set a career-high 29 points.
Leaders
Uralmash: Stanley Whittaker (29), Octavius Ellis (17 + 11 rebounds), Tyrell Nelson (11), Garrett Nevels (11 + 7 rebounds + 7 assists).
Samara: Javontae Hawkins (13 + 7 rebounds), Rade Zagorac (12 + 6 rebounds), Hayden Dalton (11 + 11 rebounds + 3 steals), Mikhail Kulagin (11), Nikola Rebic (7 + 6 assists).
What’s next
Uralmash: April 22 on the road against Zenit
Samara: April 20 at home versus Avtodor or MBA.
