CSO Voluntari attacked more aggressively in the paint and held Keila Coolbet to 53 points in a 82-53 road win on Tuesday, October 24, at the Keila Tervisekeskus in northern Estonia.
Players of the game
JT Shumate scored 10 points in the first half to secure early lead for CSO Voluntari.
A former Toledo forward finished with 15 points and six rebounds.
Kwamain Mitchell scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half to spark a further breakthrough.
A Saint Louis star point guard – 124 starts for the Billikens – went 8/11 from the field and 2/2 from the charity stripe.
Mitchell added six assists and two steals.
Keyshawn Feazell contributed with 17 points on 8/11 shooting from the court.
A former Mississippi State, McNeese State and Creighton power forward posted a game high nine boards.
Denis Krestinin led Keila Coolbet with 13 points, including a 7-of-12 effort from the free throw line.
Power forward had six rebounds and two steals.
Kārlis Žunda chipped in with 12 points.
Key stats
The hosts had a poor first half.
Keila Coolbet shot 22% from the field (7/31), including a 2/13 from the three point line.
CSO Voluntari fared much better with 40% from the court (12/30), despite a 0/9 shooting from the deep.
The Romanian club was also more successful in the paint (16-8), while Keila`s big men put up a good fight.
Denis Krestinin and Luka Majstorovič grabbed seven offensive rebounds in the first 20 minutes to create the second chances and force numerous fouls.
Together with Kārlis Žunda they allowed the home team to stay in the game, 30-25.
CSO Voluntari intensified its efforts in the paint and opened the second half with a 8-0 run.
Ainars Bagatskis men had a 14 points advantage before the final 10 minutes, 53-39.
CSO Voluntari doubled its lead in the fourth quarter.
Game notes
A Lithuanian power forward Denis Krestinin debuted for Keila on October 18 and strengthened the team`s front court significantly.
CSO Voluntari posted its first win and improved to 1-1.
Ainars Bagatskis team completed its second trip to the Baltic States, as Voluntari dropped an opener at Šiauliai.
Format
Four best teams from each group will qualify for the playoffs (A1-B4, A2-B3, A3-B2, A4-B1).
The 2024 playoffs – home and away, best-of-two series – will take place from February 1 until March 20.
The 2024 Final Four will take place on April 9-10.
Standings, as of October 24, 2023
Group A
Uniclub Casino Juventus 1-0 (+30)
Bristol Flyers 1-0 (+17)
Spartak Pleven 0-1 (-17)
Polski Cukier Start Lublin 0-1 (-30)
Hapoel Beer Sheva
Landstede Hammers Zwolle
Tartu Ulikool Maks&Moorits
Svendborg Rabbits
Group B
Šiauliai 2-1 (-16)
CSO Voluntari 1-1 (+21)
Zastal Zielona Gora 1-1 (+3)
Royal Basket Liège 1-0 (+23)
Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles 0-1 (-2)
Keila Coolbet 0-1 (-29)
Basket Brno
Valmiera Glass ViA