Unics Kazan takes sweep from Banvit

Unics Kazan took a big step towards the next round by beating Banvit Bandirma 78-69. The former Eurocup champions swept the series with Banvit and remain atop Group D with a 5-2 record, while Banvit dropped to 3-4, but is in good position to get a berth into the Last 32. Vadim Panin and Quino Colom fueled a 12-0 run for Kazan early in the second quarter to forge a 29-15 advantage and the hosts never looked back. Colom amassed 23 points plus 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 8 fouls drawn, Artsiom Parakhouski added 11 points with 9 boards and Vadim Panin scored 10 in victory. Dominique Johnson scored 16 on 4-of-6 shooting from downtown for Banvit, Courtney Fortson added 14 points with 7 rebounds and 7 assists while Gasper Vidmar posted 13 points and 11 boards.

Parakhouski scored from the top of the key for an 11-6 margin for the home team. Tolga Gecim hit a three for the visitors, then back-to-back jumper by Marko Banic and Panin gave a 17-11 cushion to Unics. Banic again and Jackie Carmichael exchanged two-pointers to make it 19-15 at the end of the first quarter. Panin and Colom exploded by scoring 12 unanswered points for the first double digit margin for the hosts, 29-15. AJ Slaughter pushed Banvit to 29-21 by scoring off the dribble, but Parakhouski regained a more comfortable difference with his soft touch, 33-21. Despite Slaughter and Vidmar trying to keep the visitors on track, a deep three by Colom made it 40-25 at halftime.

Valeriy Likhodey hit from downtown to extend the difference to 47-29. Banvit answered with 7 consecutive points and climbed within 47-36 before after another triple by Likhodey and a three-point-play by Fortson got Banvit within 50-43. Keith Langford boosted his side, but it was Anton Ponkrashov from downtown that made it 63-48. Gecim fixed the score at 63-50 after three quarters. Fortson and Johnson tried to lead Banvit back at 70-63 with less than three minutes left, but Panin and Fortson exchanged triples while Colom crowned his great game from the foul line to seal an Unics victory.