By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
UNICS Kazan had a near-perfect game and the result was stunning. The Russian club got the win in Moscow against CSKA by a whopping 21-point difference.
The final score was 88-67 and it felt more than natural the way the game unfolded.
Mario Hezonja had 18 points and 10 rebounds, Isaiah Canaan also scored 16, O.J.Mayo (photo) added 14 points while John Brown and Lorenzo Brown also had 10 points each, with Lorenzo also dishing eight assists.
“We know how good they are, but we are also very good so we knew we had to fight”, said Hezonja after the game, “they are extremely physical, they are an extremely good team but we got the victory”.
The game started with CSKA having the lead but at the end of the first quarter, UNICS was already up by six (27-21) and had a 46-28 halftime advantage. The guests were performing like a well-oiled machine and even led by 25 points (60-35).
“We came ready, we sustained their effort to come back in the second quarter, we weathered the storm in the third, and in the fourth, we closed the game right”, said Hezonja.
Toko Shengelia had a big night with 20 points, but nothing was clicking for CSKA with UNICS finishing the game shooting 60% in threes (15/25) tying the club record of made threes. “We started playing good defense in the second quarter, we got some steals and some easy baskets and that was the key”, said UNICS coach Velimir Perasovic.
“To win here is a surprise for everyone and with this point difference it’s an even bigger surprise”, added Perasovic.
“It’s a tough moment for us losing this way, after the 5th minute when UNICS started switching in defense we couldn’t compete and that’s why I want to apologize to the fans and everyone who was watching”, admitted CSKA coach Dimitris Itouds.
The two teams are now tied between the 5th and the 6th position of the Turkish EuroLeague standings with a 9-6 record.