BC Budivelnik Kiev dominated the second and fourth quarters to erase an 11-point deficit from the first game and beat Spartak St. Petersburg 73-56 to reach the Eurocup Semifinals. Malcolm Delaney scored 8 of his 17 points in the final five minutes and Artur Drozdov posted a double-double to lead Budivelnik, which will face Uxue Bilbao Basket in the next stage for a spot in the Eurocup championship game. Though Budivelnik led the game much of the night, Spartak held the series lead. The hosts were ahead 5 through three quarters and 59-53 midway through the fourth, however Delaney ignited a 14-1 game-winning charge with a three-pointer and later gave his team the 12-point lead for good with a pair of free throws as Budivelnik claimed a historic win. Michailis Anisimov, who scored the first 5 points of the fourth quarter, finished with 15 for the winners and Drozdov amassed 12 points and 12 rebounds. Loukas Mavrokefalides paced Spartak with 21 points, Zach Wright tallied 14 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists and Vladimir Dragicevic scored 11 in defeat.

Both teams misfired on their opening few possessions before Mavrokefalides broke the ice for Spartak and Rihards Kuksiks netted Budivenik’s first points. Mavrokefalides followed with a three-pointer and Nikita Kurbanov did the same as the visitors stormed to a 2-8 lead. Delaney heated up with a triple and a layup off a Kuksiks steal to close the gap to 9-10. Dragicevic scored twice to keep the visitors in front. Mavrokefalides inside and a Dragicevic steal that led to a Wright bucket in the final seconds of the quarter made it 13-19 after 10 minutes. It didn’t look good for Budivelnik when Wright made it an 8-point lead with the first basket of the second quarter, but the hosts bounced back. Anisimov stepped up with rebounds and a bucket inside, Josh Carter was whistled for a technical four after fouling Drozdov, which led to 3 free throws. Anisimov and Drozdov continued to shine in an 11-0 run that gave Budivelnik a 24-21 lead. Wright split free throws for the visitors, but Anisimov and later Drozdov from downtown further extended the advantage. Delaney free throws made it a double-digit advantage before Mavrokefalides split free throws to leave it at 37-28 at the break.

A pair of baskets by Dragicevic closed the Spartak deficit to 5 three minutes into the second half. Leo Lyons drew a foul shooting a three and made the corresponding free throws. Sergey Gorbenko soon had Budivelnik up 44-35. Gorbenko remained hot and drilled a three for a 12-point lead – the first time Budivelnik had the series lead. Mavrokefalides, Wright and Kurbanov struck back to get Spartak back ahead for the series and within 7 for the game. Wright and Mavrokefalides completed a 1-9 run to make it 52-48. Kostiantyn Anikiienko ended the Budivelnik drought with a tip-in, before a free throw from Wright made it 54-49 through three quarters. A basket-plus-foul for Anisimov restored the momentum to the hosts. He added 2 more from the line for a 10-point edge two minutes into the fourth quarter. A steal and score by Wright made it 59-53, but Delaney hit back with a 4-point play, which included Carter’s fifth foul. Lyons free throws made it 65-53 with four minutes to go. After Dargicevic spilt free throws, Delaney made it 67-54 with three minutes remaining. Lyons, with a steal and free throws, gave Budivelnik a 4-point series lead. Dainius Salenga came through with a steal and then layup as the hosts looked to power through to the finish. Delaney added 2 more from the line, completing a 14-1 run that sealed the outcome. Wright’s layup in the closing seconds made little difference as Budivelnik celebrated a monumental win.