By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Tofas Bursa got the big 92-90 win and the qualification to Top16 with a 5-5 record in what proved to be the last game of Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar in the 7DAYS EuroCup for the season. The Russian club – one of the heavy favorites to go all the way to the trophy – ended a disappointing campaign with a 4-6 record.
Sammy Mejia was the top scorer of the winning side with 21 points, while Sam Dekker and Mindaugas Kuzminskas with 17 points each tried to save the day for Lokomotiv. To be exact, Dekker had the chance to win the game with a three at the buzzer but missed the shot.
While the hosts built a 12-point advantage (59-47) in the third quarter, Loko came back and even got a 62-61 lead just before the end of the period.
Things changed in the last quarter with Tofas being once again in the driver’s seat with less than two minutes left and the score being 87-76 in their favor. Lokomotiv almost pulled off a miracle with a 12-3 run (90-88), making it a two-point game with 23 seconds on the clock.
Tarik Phillip was fouled and scored two free throws for Tofas, Kuzminskas cut the lead to two again (92-90), and Muhayamin Mustafa was fouled again. He missed both his free throws, Dekker got the rebound, he had the chance for a three and couldn’t make it.
Photo credit: EuroCup