By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
With a tremendous first half (40-25), Zalgiris Kaunas decimated Pinar Karsiyaka 74-52 and qualified to the next phase. For the hosts, this was their fourth win (4-4), whereas the visitors suffered their sixth loss (2-6) and are a step away from elimination.
For the winners, Mantas Kalnietis was unstoppable with 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists, as Brock Motum added 12 points and eight boards. On the other hand, Justin Carter had 13 points for the losing squad, with Juan Palacios and Colton Iverson adding 11 and 10, respectively.
In the beginning, no team could take a significant advantage (5-7, 10-9), however Zalgiris‘ players enhanced their performance on both ends of the floor and ended the first quarter in front by eight points (22-14), with a 12-5 run. Later, the Lithuanians extended their lead to double digits (31-20, 36-20), as the Turks were unable to fight back and Zalgiris closed the first half with a 15-point advantage (40-25).
In the second half, things didn’t change much initially. Zalgiris was retaining a double-digit advantage (45-33, 51-36) and had control of the game. The situation remained the same and the hosts were in front by 12 after 30 minutes in the game (53-41). In the last quarter, the Turks continued to play mediocre and couldn’t make a big come-back (57-46), with the Lithuanians making a 13-3 run, taking a 21-point advantage (70-49) and, consequently, claiming a much-needed victory, which let them secure their qualification to the next round.