Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits took control in the third quarter and never looked back to post a 83-71 win over Spartak Pleven on Tuesday, November 7, at the University of Tartu Sports hall in Southern Estonia.
Players of the game
Rain Veideman was a difference maker for Tartu University.
Shooting guard scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half.
Veideman was equally dangerous inside and outside the three point line as he hit three times from the deep.
Tartu marksman contributed with seven rebounds and five assists.
Aaron Menzies was perfect from the field (4/4) and offered a constant threat inside.
British center finished with 14 points, including a 6/12 effort from the three point line.
Menzies grabbed six rebounds.
Ukrainian guard Anatoly Shundel and Latvian power forward Rinalds Mālmanis also stepped up in the second half.
They scored 11 points each.
Julien Lewis (Fresno State 2016) led Spartak Pleven with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Rodney Purvis (UConn 2017) also scored 15 points.
Key stats
Teams stayed close in the first half as the biggest lead didn`t exceeded five points.
Estonian team trailed after the first 20 minutes, 38-39.
Tartu stormed out of the gates in the second half.
Rain Veideman was effective from the deep while Shundel and Mālmanis provided spark from the bench.
The hosts led by as much as 22 points, 79-57.
Six Tartu players scored in double figures.
Game notes
Tartu improved to 1-0, while Pleven dropped to 0-2.
Gundars Vētra men have posted seven consecutive victories, including six Ws at the Pafbet Estonia and Latvia league.
The 2022 Final Four participants are off to a good start.
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 November 7, 2023
Group A
Uniclub Casino Juventus 2-0 (+31)
Bristol Flyers 1-1 (+16)
Landstede Hammers Zwolle 1-0 (+15)
Tartu Ulikool Maks&Moorits 1-0 (+12)
Spartak Pleven 0-2 (-29)
Svendborg Rabbits 0-1 (-15)
Polski Cukier Start Lublin 0-1 (-30)
Hapoel Beer Sheva
Group B
Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles 2-1 (+20)
Zastal Zielona Gora 2-1 (+9)
Šiauliai 2-1 (-16)
CSO Voluntari 1-1 (+21)
Royal Basket Liège 1-0 (+23)
Valmiera Glass ViA 0-2 (-22)
Basket Brno 0-1 (-6)
Keila Coolbet 0-1 (-29)
Tie-breaker 1: Zielona Gora vs Šiauliai 1-0, +26.
Tie-breaker 2: Šiauliai vs Newcastle 1-0, +2