By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Unicaja Malaga beat Unics Kazan 82 – 80 in an overtime thriller worthy of the quality of the two EuroCup title contenders.
Jaime Fernandez paced Malaga overall with career-highs 23 points, seven assists, and 27 PIR but it was Brian Roberts who stepped up big in the crucial final stretch of the extra period.
With his team down 72 – 73, Roberts scored eight points in a row to help the hosts get a precious 80 – 75 lead with 1:33 remaining. Unics made it a one-possession game but Malaga retained a lead until the end. Six seconds before the end, Pierria Henry made 1/2, and Unics got the offensive rebound but Melvin Ejim’s game-winning attempt went off target.
Roberts finished with 14 points while Mathias Lessort had six, including the 2/2 free throws that sent the game to overtime.
Pierria Henry scored 21 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals, Trent Lockett 18 points and four rebounds and Maurice N’ Dour 14 points and six boards before he got fouled out for Unics that suffered its first loss in EuroCup this season. Malaga improved to 3-1 in Group D.