CSKA captures sixth straight VTB crown

CSKA Moscow led from start to finish in routing Khimki Moscow Region 72-95 on the road Tuesday to capture the VTB United League title for the sixth consecutive season. Nando De Colo scored 20 points in 19 minutes, Cory Higgins added 18 and Aaron Jackson 14 on 3-of-4 three-point shooting for the winners. Alexey Shved paced Khimki with 17 points, E.J. Rowland tallied 13 points and 7 assists and Dmitry Sokolov also scored 13 in defeat. The championship marked the seventh for CSKA in VTB League history since the competition was founded in 2008. Khimki is the only other team to win the title, which it did in 2011.

CSKA took charge from the very start as De Colo and Nikita Kurbanov each scored twice in a 0-11 opening run. After Rowland got Khimki on the board, Jackson scored 5 in another 0-11 run to make it 3-22. The margin was 12-34 after 10 minutes and Khimki never threatened again. CSKA continued to score with ease and the margin peaked at 31 after a pair of Ivan Lazarev dunks made it 61-92 in the fourth quarter en route to a convincing win and deserved title.