There are many ways to win a game and UNICS Kazan used its dominance on the glass to come up with a big victory to stay alive in the race for the Top 16. UNICS knocked off Umana Reyer Venice 90-87 in a big showdown in Group A, getting the win thanks in large part to a 37-26 rebound advantage.

While Jamar Smith and Isaiah Canaan were busy combining for all 9 of the club’s three-pointers, Okaro White and Jordan Morgan both did the dirty work on the glass with 10 rebounds each – including 3 offensive rebounds apiece. UNICS totaled 18 offensive rebounds, which were the team's most in more than two years. While and Morgan, who each posted double-doubles, combined for 23 points, but it was the work around the basket that helped UNICS most in moving to 3-2 in the group.

UNICS finished the contest having taken 69 field goal attempts and making 21 of 42 two-pointers and 9 of 27 three-pointers. That was 18 more attempts than Reyer took - thanks to all those offensive rebounds. And it's a good thing for UNICS that Reyer didn't have more shots because the visitors from Italy were blistering hot. Reyer converted 18 of 30 two-pointers (60.0%) and also drained 10 of 21 three-pointers (47.6%). UNICS turned those offensive rebounds into 22 second-chance points, compared to just 9 for Reyer.

The other key for UNICS was forcing Reyer into 18 turnovers while losing the ball only 12 times. And UNICS ended up with a 23-15 advantage on points off turnovers. But in the end, it was UNICS's hard work on the glass that led to the win.