Goudelock, Eidson leads Unics past Zielona Gora
Unics Kazan survived a tough test and grabbed its first road win in Last 32 Group O by edging Stelmet Zielona Gora 72-77 on Wednesday. Andrew Goudelock paced the winners with 17 points. Chuck Eidson added 13, Ian Vougioukas had 12 while Vladimir Veremeenko got 10 for Unics. Vladimir Dragicevic and Lukasz Koszarek led Zielona Gora with 14 points apiece. Aaron Cel and Christian Eyenga each added 13 for the hosts, which led 23-16 late in the first quarter. A 0-7 run which Goudelock capped with a three-pointer tied it at 23-23 after 10 minutes. Dragicevic and Eyenga shined in the second quarter and a late 7-0 run which Przemyslaw Zamojski capped with a triple gave the hosts a 42-40 edge at halftime. Eidson stepped up after the break and his outstanding performance allowed Unics to get an eight-point lead, 54-62, after 30 minutes. Zielona Gora rallied in the fourth quarter and Cel gave the hosts a 70-69 edge with under 4 minutes left. Goudelock took over with 6 unanswered points and Eidson sealed the win in the final minute.
Tywain McKee got Unics going with consecutive baskets but Cel and Eyenga soon gave Zielona Gora its first lead, 5-4. Goudelock hit a jumper, Nikita Kurbanov found his first points and free throws by Veremeenko gave Unics a 7-10 lead. It didn't last long, however, as Cel and Dragicevic fueled a 6-0 run that restored a 13-10 Zielona Gora lead. Goudelock and Kurbanov found some help from Nikos Zisis but the guests only managed to trade baskets now. A three-pointer by Koszarek and a jumper by Eyenga gave the hosts a 20-16 lead. Eyenga took over with a three-point play but a 0-7 run that Goudelock capped with a buzzer-beating triple tied it at 23-23 after 10 minutes. A three-pointer by Kostas Kaimakoglou and a jumper by Eidson gave Unics a 24-28 edge early in the second quarter. Adam Hrycaniuk and Dragicevic stepped up for Zielona Gora and a dunk by Eyenga tied it at 30-30. Kaimakoglou kept pacing Unics with free throws and an outstanding Vougioukas gave the guests a 35-38 edge. A 7-0 run that Przemyslaw Zamojski capped with a triple put Zielona Gora back ahead, 42-38. A put-back basket by Veremeenko fixed the halftime score at 42-40.
A layup by Vougioukas and a dunk by Eidson restored a 42-44 Unics lead right after the break. Koszarek and Goudelock traded jumper and a three-pointer by Dragicevic put Zielona Gora back ahead, 47-46. Eidson followed a triple with a slam but Zamojski kept the hosts within 50-51. Luke Harangody and Cel exchanged baskets and a layup by Eidson made it a five-point game, 52-57. Zielona Gora struggled to score late in the third quarter. Meanwhile, a three-pointer by Zisis and a jumper by McKee boosted Unics's lead to 54-62 after 30 minutes. The hosts improved their defense late in the third quarter. Meanwhile, a dunk-and-foul by Dragicevic and 4 unanswered points by Koszarek made it a one-point game, 63-64. Vougioukas sank a jumper that Koszarek bettered with a triple to tie the game, 66-66. Kaimakoglou answered from downtown but Eyenga and Cel completed the hosts' comeback, 70-69, with under 4 minutes to go. Goudelock took over with a three-point play and a triple. Dragicevic dunked again but Eidson gave Unics a 72-77 edge with 50 seconds remaining. Nothing changed in the final minute, as Zielona Gora missed three shots, allowing Unics to get back home with a win.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Eurocupbasketball.com