Zielona Gora beat Enisey on the road – 94:73 (27:10, 20:27, 23:21, 24:15).
Top scorers
Enisey: Kerron Johnson (16), Dustin Hogue (13 + 12 rebounds), Tyus Battle (11).
Zielona Gora: Rolands Freimanis (26 + 11 rebounds), Iffe Lundberg (18), Blake Reynolds (13), Marcel Ponitka (12 + 7 assists), Kris Richard (11 + 6 rebounds + 5 assists).
Story
On December, Zielona Gora will have 2 Russia road tours. They had to start with the Eastern city – Kransoyarsk. However, the distance was no problem to Zan Tabak’s team. In the beginning they took over the initiative. Gabriel Lundberg and Blake Reynolds (15 points combined) were tearing Siberians’ defense apart. The guests made 10 of 13 field goals (including 5 of 5 threes) and dominated on boards. Combined with perfect defense it brought the Poles the 17-point lead by the end of the first quarter – 27:10.
Krasnoyarsk woke up only in the second quarter. They played tighter at D, on boards and left no easy buckets for the opponents. Enisey’s Americans started to fire. Kerron Johnson and Tyus Battle (15 points combined) hit a few tough contested shots and started Siberians’ comeback. By the half time break the hosts reduced the gap to -10 points – 37:47.
The big break was useful for the guests. Rolands Freimanis suddenly entered the even game. In two minutes the Poles’ forward scored 10 points, thus his team brought the 17-point lead back – 63:46. The Siberians managed to get a little closer to the rivals but nothing more. By the final quarter Zielona Gora saved the double digit lead – 70:58.
Key moment
The game was decided in the beginning of the fourth. Long range bombs by Kris Richard and Lukasz Koszarek started guests’ run. Marcel Ponitka killed Enisey with 2 threes and increased the lead to +27 – 87:60. In the remaining time the Siberians only managed to cut the gap a little.
Hero
Rolands Freimanis became the author of guests’ key run. Forward managed to score 20+ points for the first time in 4 years (26 points). Moreover, the Latvian collected 11 rebounds and showed good efficiency (30).
Stat
48% (15 from 31) – the guests showed perfect percentage from beyond the arch.
Comments
Enisey head coach Drazen Anzulovich:
– Today we had some spirit issues. Zielona Gora play well, it’s a physically strong team, aggressive. We had problems in defense and offense from the very beginning and let Zielona Gora feel the rhythm, then in was hard to come back.
Zielona Gora head coach Zan Tabak:
– I want to show respect for not giving up till the very end of the game, although the gap was huge. Each win we get in the United League is an achievement for my team. Especially, after such a long trip to Krasnoyarsk.
Next
Enisey: December 13 @ Avtodor
Zielona Gora: December 8 @ CSKA
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