Zalgiris Kaunas saved some face at the ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT by picking up a 72-63 victory over reigning champion Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade, which had already booked its return ticket to the final before the Group B game. Martynas Echodas and Laurynas Beliauskas both scored 16 points for the two-time tournament champion Zalgiris, which improved to 1-2 in the group. Laurynas Birutis collected 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and five blocks while Arnoldas Kulboka chipped in 13 points. Crvena Zvezda dropped to 2-1 in the group despite Aleksandar Aranitovic collecting 18 points, four rebounds and four assists. Vojislav Stojanovic added 12 points eight rebounds and seven assists in the defeat - the club’s first in the ANGT this season. Crvena Zvezda will take on Real Madrid for the 2015 ANGT title on Sunday at noon at the Barclaycard Center.

Beliauskas opened the game with two three-pointers for a 6-2 lead. After Stojanovic made it 8-7 with a three-ball, Zalgiris was able to pull ahead 14-7. Crvena Zvezda answered with eight points from Aranitovic and Borisa Simanic for a 14-15 lead. Beliauskas punched right back with a three-ball and the lead grew to six points, with the score 25-19 after 10 minutes. Kulboka knocked down a three-ball early in the second quarter to spark a 9-2 spurt for Zagiris’ first double-digit lead 34-24. Zvezda was able to trim the gap to 36-30 but two more Kulboka three-pointers left Zalgiris ahead 44-32 at the break.

Aranitovic and Simanic scored to start an 0-10 run at the beginning of the second half and get the Serbian club to within 44-42. Varnas finally got Zalgiris on the scoreboard with a three to stop the surge and the Lithuanian club was able to get the lead back to nine points. The gap was 58-52 after 30 minutes. Mykolas Dieninis’ three-pointer increased the lead to 63-52 with seven minutes to play and two Birutis free throws had Zalgiris up 67-56 halfway through the final quarter. Kaunas turned the ball over two straight possessions and Stojanovic knocked down a three-pointer to bring the champs as close as 6-763 with three minutes left. But Crvena Zvezda missed its final seven shots of the game.