Uralmash defeated Lokomotiv Kuban in Krasnodar 95-91 (22:30, 26:23, 24:24, 23:14).
Game progress
The guests controlled the start of the game with a 9:3 run. Loko responded with full-court press, which helped to get fastberak points. After Dmitrii Uzinskii slam, the Krasnodar team took first lead midway through the opening quarter – 19:18. Loko took a double-digit lead in the second quarter – 32:22. But the guests bigmen helped get back into the game. Octavius Ellis regularly got free throw attempts, Ilia Popov scored points in the paint, Oleg Akramov cut the deficit to 5 points with a long-range shot at the end of the first half, Loko had lead by halftime – 53:48.
Key moment
After the break, Ilia Popov helped Uralmash restore tie on the scoreboard, but the hosts were able to regain a double-digit advantage with 6 minutes left in regulation – 84:74. For Uralmash, the situation was complicated by Ellis and Akramov 4 points each, but that didn’t stop the team from dragging their opponent into the clutch. With trailing by 8, Uralmash made 3 long-range shots in a row and managed to take the lead 1:10 minute before the end – 91:89. Mikhail Vedischev tied the score from the free throw line, but Popov scored in the next possession. Vladislav Emchenko missed game-saving shot and the guests took win.
X-factor
An important reason for the Yekaterinburg team win was bigmen confidence. Ellis – Akramov – Popov trio brought Uralmash 56 points (58% of the team’s total points in the game).
Facts
Oleg Akramov (18 points) and Ilia Popov (26 points) set career-highs in tonight’s game.
Popov had the best performance of the season with 100% field-goals made (10 of 10).
Uralmash defeated Loko on the road for the first time in history and tied the season series with Krasnodar team (2-2).
In 9 days the teams will play each other again in Krasnodar in Quarterfinals Game 1.
Leaders
Lokomotiv Kuban: Andrei Martiuk (18 + 5 rebounds), Vladislav Emchenko (14), Mikhail Vedischev (13)
Uralmash: Ilia Popov (26 + 6 rebounds), Oleg Akramov (18), Kirill Pisklov (16), Octavius Ellis (12 + 7 rebounds), Yauheni Beliankou (11), Igor Novikov (10 + 7 assists + 5 steals)
What’s next
April 22 in Krasnodar
