Uralmash defeated Astana at home – 87:79 (19:11, 14:13, 21:27, 33:28).
Game progress
Uralmash needed a home win to guarantee the first place in Group B. The hosts started with a 17:0 run. However, Astana quickly overcame problems and managed to limit Uralmash offense, so the Yekaterinburg team wouldn’t be able to increase the lead by the halftime – 33:24.
The Kazakh team started the second half even more confidently. Astana scored more points than in the entire first half – 27, cutting the deficit to a minimum – 53:51.
Key moment
The guests took the lead for the first time since the beginning of the game – 73:72. Still, Uralmash wasn’t going to put off an early win in the group until the next game. Uralmash increased the pace and managed to regain the initiative with Stanley Whittaker and Garrett Nevels help. Octavius Ellis (a rebound and a dunk on a fastbreak) set up the game-winning point.
X-factor
Octavius Ellis is one of the best rebounders of the season and helped Uralmash in the paint again – 46 vs. 27 rebounds in total, including 20 in offense. Ellis also set the eason-high 17 rebounds against Astana.
Fact
Uralmash secures first place in Group B – now Samara won’t be able to catch up to Uralmash even in any case.
For Rostislav Vergun the game was the 20th in Uralmash. During this period, the Belarusian coach has more wins than in all the time he coached Minsk (16 in 20 games vs. 15 in 122).
Octavius Ellis made his 11th double-double of the season.
Leaders
Uralmash: Octavius Ellis (25 + 12 rebounds), Garett Nevels (21 + 6 assists + 3 steals), Stanley Whittaker (13 + 5 rebounds + 3 steals), Kirill Pisklov (10 + 3 steals).
Astana: Karvel Anderson (27 + 6 rebounds), Markell Johnson (19 + 14 assists + 4 steals), Jordan Skipper-Brown (11), Devin Davis (11 + 5 rebounds).
What’s next
Uralmash (24-14): April 10 on the road against Avtodor
Astana (12-26): April 11 on the road versus MBA.
