CSKA rallies from slow start past Bayern

CSKA Moscow trailed for more than three quarters, but pulled away late to muscle out a 77-70 win over visiting FC Bayern Munich in the Round 19 opener on Thursday night. With the win, CSKA improved to 14-5 to remain in third place in the standings, while Bayern dropped to 9-10. CSKA was down by 13 points in the first quarter and did not take its first lead until there was 6:42 left in the fourth quarter, but used inspiration from Joel Bolomboy and Sergio Rodriguez down the stretch to pull out the victory. Will Clyburn was CSKA's top performer with 20 points and 8 rebounds. Daniel Hackett scored 12 and Sergio Rodriguez had 11 points and 6 assists in victory. Bayern had five players in double figures, with Petteri Koponen and Nihad Dedovic scoring 12 apiece in defeat.

Nemanja Dangubic hit a triple and had a three-point play to open Bayern's account. A pair of driving layups from Dedovic made it 4-14. A triple from Dedovic extended the difference to 6-19 as CSKA was held to just one field goal in the opening 9 minutes. But Rodriguez knocked down a triple and had a floater that reduced the deficit to 13-20 at the end of the first quarter. A three-pointer from Clyburn and a three-point play from Nando De Colo cut the margin to 19-22. Derrick Williams hit from long range and Leon Radosevic from close range to make it 21-30, however, Nikita Kurbanov nailed 3 triples in less than three minutes to help the hosts tie the game at 35-35. Bayern led 35-37 at halftime. Stefan Jovic knocked down a three to open the third quarter, but CSKA replied with a 7-0 run to tie it again at 42-42. However, Dedovic and Radosevic made sure the visitors regained the lead right away. Koponen had a three-pointer and beat the third-quarter buzzer with a jumper to make it 52-57 after 30 minutes. A shot-clock beating triple from Joel Bolomboy tied it again at 57-57 early in the fourth and Rodriguez made a runner off the glass to give CSKA its first lead of the night, 61-60, with 6:42 left in the game. CSKA extended the lead with the help of back-to-back dunks by Bolomboy before a three-pointer from Rodriguez opened a 75-64 advantage with 2:06 to go. Jovic snapped a 10-0 run with a triple, but CSKA was not going to let the lead slip away.

Pivotal performer

CSKA rookie center Joel Bolomboy had not scored any points in seven of his last eight appearances, but shined in the fourth quarter when he scored all of his career-high 9 points. He also finished with 4 rebounds in 12 minutes on the floor.

Game-changing run

With CSKA up 65-64, Sergio Rodriguez first made a technical free throw and then fed Bolomboy for a big dunk. Rodriguez connected with Bolomboy once again and after a pair of foul shots from Will Clyburn, a triple from Rodriguez capped a 10-0 run that opened a 75-64 lead with 2:06 to go.

Overcoming two-point struggles

CSKA made 13 of 34 (38.2%) two-point shots, its feewest two-pointers CSKA in more than two years.

Missing in action

CSKA was without Cory Higgins in this game as well as Andrey Vorontsevich. Meanwhile, Bayern did not have Vladimir Lucic, who had started all 18 games prior to this contest.

Next game

Bayern will be back in the Russian capital on Friday to visit Khimki Moscow Region, while CSKA takes a trip to face FC Barcelona Lassa.