By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Zalgiris prevailed over CSKA Moscow 79-74 in Kaunas, marking a very important win of prestige against a much stronger opponent! The Lithuanians improved to 7-12 in the standings, while CSKA fell to 14-5.
Kevin Pangos shined with 21 points and important contribution in the final minutes of the game for the winners. Augusto Lima had 12 points and captain Paulius Jankunas added 11.
Sarunas Jasikevicius’ team put the visitors to the test from early on. Pangos executed from the 3-point line to give his team a 5-point advantage, 12-7 at 4′, then grabbed another one with Jankunas, 18-13. At the end of the period, the score was even, at 20 points.
James Augustine (15 points) was crucial for Dimitris Itoudis’ team in the second period and was the one to keep his team ahead 38-45 at halftime.
Zalgiris trimmed the short deficit and even got the lead of the game (50-47) in the beginning of the second half with a shot by Leo Westermann. The two teams were head to head throughout the third period, yet CSKA grabbed a short lead at the end, 57-61.
With Vorontsevich (9 points), the Russians expanded, yet with 4 minutes to go, the Lithuanian team tied the score again at 70 points.