By Eurohoops team/info@eurohoops.net
Τhanks to two free throws from Victor Claver, 10 seconds before the end of the game, Lokomotiv Kuban beat Zalgiris Kaunas 74-76 in a late thriller and claimed their second victory in Group C.
The Russians had a seven-point advantage (64-71), three minutes before the end of the game, but Zalgiris came back and tied the game with a dunk by Ian Vougioukas, 12,5 seconds before the end end, only for Claver to give the Russians the victory at the end. For the winners, Malcolm Delaney had 21 points, while for the Lithuanians, Vougioukas was the top scorer with 22.
In the first quarter, Zalgiris made a better start and was in front by six (16-10). However, with a 12-2 run, Lokomotiv Kuban took a four-point advantage (18-22), but the Lithuanians responded and regained the lead at the end of the quarter with a 13-5 run (31-27). Later, both teams played great defence and didn’t score many points (the individual score was 9-16). As a result, Giorgos Bartzokas’ team had a three-point advantage at the end of the first half (40-43).
In the second half, Lokomotiv retained the lead between six and nine points (48-54, 51-60), but with a 9-0 run Zalgiris tied the game in the beginning of the last quarter (60-60). The Russians, though, made a 11-4 run (64-71) and seemed to have the upper hand. But, Zalgiris made a big come-back, Vougioukas tied the game (74-74), but it was Claver who said the last word (74-76). Mantas Kalnietis had the last shot of the game, but he missed on a three.