By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
A close game between Nizhny Novgorod and Liektabelis in Russia ultimately went to the team that wanted it more. The hosts were in dire need of a win in order to step closer to the Eurocup Top 16, which they did by prevailing 91 – 89.
Lietkabelis had advanced to the next stage two weeks ago, but that didn’t stop them from being quite dangerous away from home. They were actually ahead in the score 82 – 83, with less than 3 minutes left, but made a series of turnovers while Nizhny scored 6 unanswered points to make it 88 – 83, 15 seconds before the final buzzer, embracing victory.
Ivan Strebkov, Nizhny’s best player in the game, kept his team safe near the end with 4/4 from the line in the last minute. He finished the match with Eurocup career-high in points with 31 (on 9/17 from the field), and index rating, recording 36 ranking, while DeAndre Kane added 16 points plus 9 rebounds.
Simas Galdikas and Ben Magden dropped 20 points each for Liektabelis while getting those boards with 8 and 6 respectively.