Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits lead never exceeded 10 points but Gundars Vētra and his men did just enough to post a 83-76 win over CSO Voluntari on Tuesday, March 12, at the Tartu University sports hall in southern Estonia.
Players of the game
Rinalds Mālmanis stepped up for Tartu.
Power forward didn`t missed a field goal for most of the first half and added two important points in the last minute.
A Latvian finished with 21 points on 9/13 shooting from the field and a perfect 3/3 from the charity stripe.
Mālmanis grabbed eight rebounds and blocked one shot to earn the MVP award.
Märt Rosenthal shot 2/8 from the field in the first half but found the other ways to contribute.
Point guard registered 12 assists and four steals.
Other Tartu backcourt players took over in offense.
Devin Harris (Oklahoma Wesleyan University) scored nine of his 11 points after the break.
Rain Veideman chipped in with 15 points.
Trevon Allen led all scorers with 24 points on 10/23 shooting from the field.
A former Idaho Vandal was especially impressive in the first half as he had 16 points, including a 3/4 salvo from the three point line.
Fellow guard Kwamain Mitchell helped with 16 points.
A former Saint Louis floor general dished out four assists.
Key stats
Tartu shot 50% from field in the first half, 18/36.
CSO Voluntari weren`t far behind with 45%.
The hosts remained consistent throughout the game and shared the ball well.
Tartu team often had four or five passes before the field goal attempt and this time it paid off.
Five Tartu players finished in double figures.
Allen and Mitchell combined for 40 points but the other visitors weren`t as successful in offense.
The third best scorer had seven points.
CSO Voluntari cut the gap down to five points, 78-73, with 02:05 on the game clock.
A three by Rain Veideman and a layup by Rinalds Mālmanis re-doubled Tartu lead, 83-73.
Kwamain Mitchell responded with a three but it was the last field goal in the game.
Game notes
Tartu improved to 5-3, while Voluntari dropped to 6-2.
Gundars Vētra and his men ended a 6-0 streak by Voluntari.
Tartu are 4-1 in the ENBL home games.
The Estonians now have six straight wins on the home floor, including a forfeit against Prometey.
Voluntari are 3-2 in the ENBL road games.
Tartu may lose by six points on March 26 and still qualify for the Final Four.
Ainars Bagatskis men need to win by eight points in order to qualify.
SCHEDULE (local time only)
(A1) Uniclub Casino Juventus Utena – Royal Liège Basket (B4)
Game one: Wednesday, March 13, Liège 20:00
Game two: Wednesday, March 20, Utena 18:30
(A2) Bakken Bears Aarhus – Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles (B3)
Game one: Friday, March 1, Newcastle; Bakken Bears win 92-87
Game two: Wednesday, March 13, Aarhus 18:30
(A3) Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits – CSO Voluntari (B2)
Game one: Tuesday, March 12, Tartu win 83-76
Game two: Tuesday, March 26, Bucharest 19:00
(A4) Bristol Flyers – Šiauliai (B1)
Game one: Thursday, March 7, Šiauliai win 84-76
Game two: Tuesday, March 19, Šiauliai 18:00