Lietkabelis tops Buducnost on Juskevicius’s record night

Adas Juskevicius assaulted the 7DAYS EuroCup record book on Tuesday in leading Lietkabelis Panevezys to an 86-79 victory over Buducnost VOLI Podgoricaat Cido Arena. Juskevicius tied a EuroCup record with 9 three-pointers made and set a competition with 7 in the first quarter. He finished with 31 points to set club records for threes in a game and points scored. Juskevicius also dished 5 assists. The victory lifted Lietkabelis into a share of second place in Group B alongside Buducnost at 3-2. Zanis Peiners added 19 points and Ksistof Lavrinovic had 11 for the winners. Filip Barovic paced Buducnost with 18 points, Kyle Gibson scored 14 and Nikola Ivanovic produced 12 points, 7 assists and 4 steals in defeat. The game featured many momentum shifts; the hosts led 27-5 after Juskevicius’s blazing start, but Buducnost closed the gap to 12 at halftime and then scored 30 in the third quarter to take a slim lead. Lietkabelis opened the fourth with a 13-3 charge and a pair of late Juskevicius threes helped wrap up the victory.

Juskevicius took control of the game for Lietkabelis with a record-setting three-point shooting display; he made 7 consecutive three-pointers to stake his team to a 27-5 start. The first 5 of those came during a run of 19 unanswered points. Ivanovic and Barovic helped jumpstart the Buducnost attack to get within 31-13 after 10 minutes. The visitors continued to fight back and Ivanovic made it 33-20 with a three-pointer. Danilo Nikolic narrowed the gap to 42-31 later in the second quarter, but a Ksistof Lavrinovic three helped the hosts regain some momentum to lead 45-33 at the break.

Gibson opened the second half with a three to bring Buducnost within single digits. Gibson later drew his side within 49-42 and the visitors kept fighting back. Nemanja Gordic buried a three and after Vaidas Cepukaitis committed an unsportsmanlike foul on Barovic, the latter made it 53-50. Buducnost completed the comeback with a Suad Sehovic three-pointer that made it 58-58 and then Barovic free throws to take the lead. A three by Sead Sehovic gave the visitors a 59-63 advantage. Lorenzo Williams free throws made it 61-63 through three quarters. Lietkabelis got the first three buckets of the fourth quarter, tying the game on a Peiners jumper and taking the lead on a Gary Talton layup. Despite a three by Suad Sehovic, the hosts continued to roll as Darjus Lavrinovic scored twice in a 13-3 run that made it 74-66. Nikolic sank a three to give Buducnost hope, but Juskevicius came alive again with a floater and another 2 three-pointers to keep his team in control. A jumper by Peiners made it 84-75 and all but sealed the outcome.