Jerai Grant set a new ENBL scoring record and had 32 points as the Budivelnyk Kyiv registered a 73-59 win over TalTech Optibet on Wednesday, January 4, at the TalTech Spordihoone in Tallinn, Estonia.
Players of the game
Jerai Grant was unstoppable six days before his birthday.
A former Clemson star and the 2011 Atlantic Coast Conference All-Defensive team member scored 32 points.
Grant had 11 points and six forced fouls already in the first half.
The next 20 minutes were even more impressive.
Budivelnyk big man posted 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting inside and 3-of-3 from the free throw line.
Grant grabbed six rebounds and forced eight fouls in 28 minutes of action.
Archie Goodwin also offered a permanent threat on the offensive end.
Kentucky standout forced seven fouls enroute to 11 points.
Goodwin grabbed six rebounds as well.
Vyacheslav Bobrov contributed with four points, five rebounds and four assists.
Troy Franklin Junior (Coppin State) had seven points and five forced fouls.
Kristaps Gludītis answered with 13 points for TalTech Optibet.
A Latvian guard struggled from the deep but was efficienct closer to the basket.
Marcanvis Lamar Hymon (Ole Miss 2018) posted nine points in 15 minutes before he was fouled out.
Ran Andre Pehka had eight points and nine rebounds.
Key stats
Grant, Goodwin and Franklin combined for 12 forced fouls in the first half.
A relatively poor shooting percentage from the field delayed Budivelnyk`s advance.
TalTech Optibet at one point led by 10 points and finished the first half on top 30-36.
The hosts struggled the rest of the way.
Jerai Grant scored 21 points in the second half...alone, while Taltech players tallied 23 points.
Hymon was fouled out and Budivelnyk outscored TalTech in the paint 24-6 after the break.
Both teams were unsuccessful from the three point line (2/13 vs 5/29).
Game notes
Budivelnyk Kyiv improved to 3-0 while TalTech Optibet dropped to 0-3.
The Kyivites visited the Estonian capital five weeks ago.
They dropped the FIBA Europe Cup game against Kalev/Cramo on November 23.
Three days later Budivelnyk posted the first win in the ENBL – a 85-62 success against KB Sigal Prishtina, followed by a 74-63 win over Zastal Zielona Gora.
Ukraine team play its FIBA home games at Veroli, Italy.
Vitalii Zotov left VEF Rīga and joined Budivelnyk one week ago.
He played 12:17 minutes on Wednesday and scored two points.
ENBL records, as of January 2023
Points
Jerai Grant 32 January 4, 2023, Budivelnyk 73-59 TalTech
Cleveland Melvin 30 December 21, 2022, Prishtina 69-89 Lublin
Garrett Nevels 29 December 28, 2022, Valmiera 78-108 Sopot
Tyler Bey 28 November 29, 2022, Ostrow 92-76 Ness Ziona
Dardan Berisha 28 December 20, 2022, Zielona Gora 75-89 Prishtina
SCHEDULE (local time only)
Wednesday, January 4, Tallinn (GMT+3h)
BC Budivelnyk 73–59 TalTech Optibet
19:30 Šiauliai – BC Kalev/Cramo
Thursday, January 5, Tallinn (GMT+3h)
17:00 TalTech Optibet – Šiauliai
19:30 BC Kalev/Cramo – Budivelnyk
STANDINGS, as of January 4, 2023, CET 18:30
Group A
Budivelnyk Kyiv 3-0 (+48)
Zastal Zielona Gora 2-2 (-14)
Kalev/Cramo 2-1 (+42)
Polski Cukier Start Lublin 2-1 (+29)
KB Sigal Prishtina 1-3 (-40)
TalTech Optibet 0-3 (-65)
Šiauliai 0-0
Tie-breaker: Kalev/Cramo 1-1, +6; Sigal Prishtina 1-1, +3; Zastal Zielona Gora 1-1, -9.
Comments