CSKA Moscow defeated UNICS Kazan on the road, 105-91 (30-26, 28-24, 20-18, 27-23).
Top Scorers
UNICS: Keith Langford (25+5 ast+3 stl), Artsiom Parakhouski (16+8 reb+3 blk), Orlando Johnson (18+5 ast)
CSKA: James Augustine (19+8 reb), Nando De Colo (17+11 ast+4 stl), Andrei Vorontsevich (13), Dmitry Kulagin (13), Aaron Jackson (11+5 ast)
Intro
CSKA needed a win to remain in sole possession of 1st place, while UNICS had a chance to tie the reigning champions with a win.
Both teams were missing key players. CSKA point guard Milos Teodosic did not make the trip to Kazan, while UNICS had to go without starting point guard Quino Colom and Evgeny Voronov, who are both nursing injuries.
Turning Point
After a competitive opening period featuring several changes, CSKA gradually pulled away during the next two quarters, going up by as much as 17 midway through the 3rd.
But Kazan was able to trim the deficit to 10 entering the 4th, then used a 7-1 run to get within four, 79-75.
Without a field goal in over seven minutes, CSKA finally got going on a Nando De Colo layup. After Keith Langford missed a ‘3’ that would have made it a one-possession game, Viktor Khryapa stretched the Army Men’s lead to nine with his only 3-pointer of the game.
UNICS got back within six, but never really threatened again as CSKA iced the win at the free-throw line and beyond the arc.
With the win, CSKA improves to 12-1, while Kazan drops into 3rd at 10-3.
Stat
15-24 – CSKA shot 63% from beyond the arc en route to 15 3-pointers, a new season-best for the club.
Star
Nando De Colo. The French guard turned in a masterful performance in Teodosic’s absence, scoring an efficient 17 (including four 3-pointers) to go with 11 assists and four steals.
Up Next
UNICS: January 29 at Enisey
CSKA: January 29 vs. Astana
