By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
AX Armani Exchange Milan managed to keep CSKA Moscow‘s comeback under its control and grab an 84-76 victory on the road for Round 29 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague on Thursday.
Striking Kevin Punter set a new career-high performance with 32 points on 5-9 from the three-point line to help the Italian side grab its second victory in a row, while they have now won 10 of their last 12 games to improve to a 19-10 record in the EuroLeague standings.
Despite Milano‘s outbreak in the first half, CSKA quickly tried to restore some ground in the third quarter and managed to trim the deficit in the third period, though Milan held strong to a 70-55 lead after 30 minutes.
It all came down to the fourth quarter, as CSKA eased into an 18-9 run with three minutes to play, though Punter was there to help his team rise to the final win.
“It’s an important win for us. I think we started well in the first quarter. That kind of set the tone. I think my players were very good and very focused in facing the comeback of CSKA. I think our defense was, for most of the game, a good level”, mentioned Ettore Messina.
Adding up to Punter’s efforts, Zach LeDay had 12 points and three rebounds for Milano and Shavon Shields dropped 14 points. Kyle Hines received a warm welcome from his former team and had 7 points and 6 rebounds for Messina’s team.
All love for @SirHines back in Moscow! pic.twitter.com/JmVEpDwUZe
— Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) March 11, 2021
“It definitely wasn’t easy coming here as a guest for the first time after so many years, but once the game started, we had a mission. We’re at the last leg of the season and we needed to get a win tonight versus a great team and we were able to accomplish that”, said Hines upon his return to Moscow.
Mike James led the Army Team with 21 points and 5 assists and Tornike Shengelia had 20 points along with 9 rebounds for Dimitris Itoudis’ squad that has now slipped its second game in a row (after a tough loss to Efes last week) to fall to an 18-10 record.
Photo: EuroLeague