
It was a historic night for newcomer Radnicki Kragujevac in Klaipeda on Wednesday, as the Serbian side tied Eurocup record with 31 assists, while edging Neptunas Klaipeda 97-101. Its third consecutive victory improves Radnicki to 3-1, in a share of the top spot in Group H, while Neptunas dropped to 1-3, in the fifth place. Even though the hosts hit 11 triple through three quarters, Radnicki led 71-77 lead going into the fourth quarter, and it never relinquished the lead. The hosts tied it at 89-89 when Marius Runkauskas single-handedly created a 9-0 run, but in the thrilling finale, Mouphtaou Yarou scored a game-winning basket for Radnicki's historic triumph. Yarou finished with 20 points plus 13 rebounds, while Marko Marinovic had 19 points plus 8 assists for Radnicki. Sava Lesic added 18 points, Dusan Mladjan 16, while Stefan Jovic dished out 10 assists. Valdas Vasylius had 25 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the hosts, Runkauskas netted 23, while Martynas Mazeika scored 12 in defeat.
Vytautas Sarakauskas and Arvydas Eitutavicius nailed triples to start the game, and with Valdas Vasylius adding a basket-plus-foul, the hosts went ahead 13-2. But the visitors caught up in no time, as Milos Dimic hit one from downtown, and Dusan Mladjan followed it up with back-to-back triples for 15-15. Radnicki used the momentum, as Mouphtaou Yarou scored twice and Mladjan nailed his third three-pointer for 22-27 after 10 minutes. Neptunas got it going from long range again at the start of the second quarter, with threes from Justas Sinica and Marius Runkauskas, but Sava Lesic and Nikola Kalinic kept the visitors ahead, 32-39. But more threes from Sinica and Runkauskas, and another one from Martynas Mazeika helped the hosts regain the lead, and go into halftime up 51-49. After the break, Runkauskas nailed another triple, but Marko Marinovic hit twice from downtown on the other end, and Dennis Seeley hit one for 58-66. The hosts countered with more triples from Runkauskas and Sinica, as well as a basket-plus-foul from Andrew Smith, but Yarou and Nikola Jevtovic made sure Radnicki stays in front, and Mladjan it a jumper, giving the visitors 71-77 after three quarters. Neptunas hit 5 free throws to open the fourth quarter and close within 1 point, but Milos Dimic nailed a three-pointer, Kalinic added a put-back, before couple of baskets from Yarou made it 80-89. However, Runkauskas strung together 9 points, including his fifth triple, to tie the game. But Yarou and Stefan Jovic put Radnicki back in front, before Vasylius made it 93-94. After Mladjan sunk his fourth triple, Vasylius hit his first for 97-97, but Yarou's made a game-winning basket for the visitors and Kalinic sealed it from the free throw line.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Eurocupbasketball.com