By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
It was not easy but Brose Baskets got its first Euroleague win of the season, prevailing by three points (89-86) over feisty Unics Kazan.
Nikos Zisis led the charge for the German champs with 16 points, 12 assists and just 2 turnovers, Janis Strelnieks scored 17 points and the duo of Nicolo Melli and Darius Miller added 15 points each.
The game was more than close, with the guests getting a small lead in the first half and going to the locker rooms with a 44-41 advantage. They returned ready for more and thanks to a 9-0 run they led even by 10 (55-45) during the third quarter mainly by controlling the boards, however that was not enough.
The hosts reacted quickly and despite a buzzer beater by Quino Colom at the end of the third quarter that gave to Unics a seven point lead (67-60) the game was far from finished. With five minutes left, Brose Baskets thanks to its defensive effort had a one point lead (77-76) and everything could happen.
The two teams entered the last two minutes tied at 82 and Strenlieks gave a crucial lead to Brose Bamberg (84-82). Then is was Zisis turn (86-82) while Quino Colom, Kostas Kaimakoglou and Keith Langford missed. With 20 seconds left on the clock Coty Clarke made it again a two points game (86-84) for Unics after a missed three by Darius Miller but Nicolo Melli answered with two free throws (88-84).
Unics remained alive with Pavel Antipov making it again a two points game (88-86) just 10 seconds before the final buzzer, Patrick Heckmann was fouled and made one out of two free throws (89-86) and then Quino Colom was fouled with 2 seconds left, he missed both his free throws and the game was over. Keith Langford scored 24 points for Unics Kazan, Coty Clark had 20 and Colom added 15.