Oktyabr records pivotal victory over Partizan


Krasny Oktyabr Volgograd edged Partizan NIS Belgrade 61-59 in a thrilling finish to improve to 2-2 while dropping the winless Serbian side to 0-4. Mihajlo Andric gave Partizan its first lead of the night at 54-55 with three minutes left, but Romeo Travis from the foul line returned the lead for good to the home team before Randy Culpepper sealed the victory. Culpepper contributed 13 points, Anton Ponkrashov added 12 with 4 assists and Travis netted 10 with 8 boards in victory. Nikola Milutinov scored 13 and pulled down 9 boards for Partizan, Edo Muric added 12 points, while Milenko Tepic, Djordje Gagic and Andric finished with 10 each.

Muric from mid range hit a jumper for a 4-10 advantage to the visiting team. Vasily Zavourev fueled with 7 points an amazing 11-0 run for the hosts to lead 15-10 on a basket scored by newcomer Culpepper late in the quarter. Milutinov grabbed an offensive board and scored a lay-up to fix the score at 15-12 after 10 minutes. Andric closed the gap to 15-14, but the home team answered to raise the margin to 24-16 with a long distance shot posted by Culpepper and a free throw from Ponkrashov. The visitors reacted to stay close, climbing within 26-24 with Milutinov finishing a fast break, while Travis exploded with a huge dunk at the halftime buzzer that made it 32-25 for Krasny Oktyabr.

Travis scored again to enlarge the cushion to 38-30 and after Milutinov again kept his side rolling, a three-pointer by Ponkrashov gave the first double digit margin to the home team, 43-32. Milenko Tepic from long distance brought Partizan closer, 45-41, and a jumper made by Artem Komissarov gave the hosts a 47-41 advantage at the end of the third quarter. Marcus Cousin’s jumper made it 52-41 for Krasny Oktyabr, however Luka Bogdanovic capped a 0-11 run for Partizan to tie the score at 52-52. Travis made an easy layup, but Andric from long-distance put Partizan in front on 54-55. Culpepper scored to make it 59-55 then sealed the win with another layup, 61-57, before Tepic hit a jumper, but missed the potential shot to win it.