By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Lithuanian in front of a record crowd of more than 15.525 fans prevailed over the “Army Team”. The final score was 85-73 as the hosts created a real distance in the last quarter and got their 17th win of the season and just the second against CSKA in the last 21 games.
With five minutes left Zalgiris was up by 18 points (80-62) and the game was over. Despite the fact that CSKA Moscow came back after trailing for most of the game and got a one-point lead (57-56) during the third quarter, Zalgiris ended the period leading by four (64-60) and had an amazing 16-2 run in the first five minutes of the last quarter.
Kevin Pangos and Antanas Kavaliauskas with back-to-back threes gave to Zalgiris its first double-digit lead (77-62) and sealed the outcome. Pangos finished the game with 15 points and 11 assists, while Brandon Davies was the top scorer of the winners with 17 points. Captain Paulius Jankunas also scored 13 points.
CSKA Moscow let Zalgiris Kaunas score 48 points in the first half and things could have been worse for the “Army Team” if Leo Westermann didn’t make an amazing half-court three at the buzzer to cut the lead six (48-42).
Nando De Colo finished the game with 18 points, Kyle Hines added 12 but no other player of CSKA scored in double-digits. It was an off night for the team which has secured the top spot in the standings and a great performance by Zalgiris.