Randolph leads Lokomotiv to big win against Valencia

In a high-class showdown between the last two Eurocup champions, Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar stayed undefeated in the 2013-14 Eurocup by downing Valencia Basket 74-62 in Last 32 Group N on Wednesday. Lokomotiv improved to 2-0 in Group N and grabbed its 13th consecutive win in the competition - since it lost to Valencia in Game 2 of the 2012-13 semifinals. Valencia lost a game for the Eurocup for the first time since Round 2 of the quarterfinals against ALBA Berlin last season. Anthony Randolph and Malcolm Delaney led the winners with 18 points apiece. Randolph added 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and 3 blocks. Delaney added 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Derrick Brown had 12 points while Nikita Kurbanov got 10 for Lokomotiv. Bojan Dubljevic led Valencia with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Luke Harangody added 14 points and 7 rebounds for the guests. Valencia had a good start but a three-pointer by Andrey Zubkov gave Lokomotiv a 19-16 edge after 10 minutes. Lokomotiv improved its defense and Randolph took over in the second quarter. He got plenty of help from Brown to break the game open, 41-26, at halftime. Valencia tried to return to the game through an outstanding Dubljevic, but Lokomotic improved its margin to 61-45 after 30 minutes and kept a double-digit margin all the way until the final buzzer.

Sam Van Rosson got Valencia going with a three-pointer from the top of the key and a dunk by Harangody gave the guests a 2-5 edge. A put-back basket by Kurbanov and a dunk by Randolph gave Lokomotiv its first lead, 6-5. Dubljevic found his first points and Nemanja Nedovic struck from downtown for an 8-10 Valencia edge. Valencia kept feeding Dubljevic in the low post, as his 6 consecutive points kept the guests ahead, 13-16. Delaney and a three-pointer by Zubkov gave Lokomotiv a 19-16 edge after 10 minutes. Maxim Kolyushkin hit a jumper early in the second quarter and Zubkov scored again but a rainbow shot by Pau Ribas kept Valencia within 23-20. Lokomotiv found a go-to guy in Randolph, who had 7 points in a 10-2 run that made Valencia call timeout at 33-22. Sato hit a jumper which Brown bettered with consecutive baskets. Brown hit a jumper and Randolph scored off a steal to make it a 15-point game, 41-26, at halftime. Brown dunked right after the break but Guillem Vives and Sato brought Valencia closer, 43-31. Delaney and Brown fueled a 6-0 run which kept the hosts out of trouble, 49-31. Dubljevic and Harangody struck from downtown but Delaney and Brown answered for a 56-37 Lokomotiv margin. Harangody and Dubljevic kept scoring fluently but a three-pointer by Zubkov and free throws by Delaney gave the hosts a 61-45 margin after 30 minutes. Lokomotiv struggled to score early in the fourth quarter, as Ribas and Harangody brought Valencia a bit closer, 64-50, with under 6 minutes left. Randolph struck from downtown and even when Dubljevic scored again and Ribas sent a behind-the-back pass to Sato for a layup, Lokomotiv had already sealed a prestigious, well-deserved win.