«Tsmoki-Minsk» Minsk, Belarus vs. «Azovmash» Mariupol, Ukraine

Azovmash (Ukraine) defeated Tsmoki-Minsk (Belarus) on the road in double overtime, 102-98, in Week 14 of the regular season. Tsmoki cruised to victory the first time these two teams met this season, but today's game was much closer. It took two overtimes, but Azovmash eventually overcame its hosts, taking revenge for its earlier defeat and snapped a 3-game losing streak.

Intro
Azovmash head coach Zvezdan Mitrovic, in just his second VTB United League game with the team, tried to catch the home team by surprise early on. Young guard Maksym Lutsenko started the game for the visitors, while new American signing Terrell Stoglin made his debut. The two guards were sharp early. Lutsenko scored his team's first points of the game, while Stoglin caught fire soon after. Tsmoki-Minsk, meanwhile, matched Azovmash's aggressiveness on offense with 3-point shooting. Azovmash led by two points at the end of the first quarter, 20-18, thanks to a layup from Stoglin.

Mitrovic's men carried the momentum over to the second quarter. Mixing assertiveness in the paint with 3-point shooting, the Ukrainians managed to stretch the lead to nine points. But two 3-pointers from Branko Mirkovic brought the home team roaring back and they trailed by just four points, 42-38, at halftime.

The Ukrainians dominated early in the third quarter...Lutsenko's 3-pointer with 5:14 to play in the period gave Azovmash a 55-44 lead, its biggest margin yet. But Tsmoki-Minsk found an answer once again, pulling within a point, 56-55, a few minutes later thanks to Aliaksei Trastsinetski's hot hand on the perimeter. Azovmash managed to score the final five points of the period and enter the fourth quarter with a six-point lead, but Tsmoki had plenty of time to complete the comeback.

The home team finally enjoyed a strong start to a quarter in the fourth. Tsmoki pulled ahead, 64-63, with 7:55 to play on two points from Demonte Harper. From that point on, the game featured numerous lead changes and ties. Azovmash was led by Stoglin, while Tsmoki spread out the scoring. The game was tied, 77-77, with a minute to play, but Stoglin and Mirkovic both missed 3-point attempts on their teams' final possession, sending the game to overtime.

Turning Point
The first overtime ended in a tie as well. Despite combining for 30 points in five minutes, both teams missed opportunities to win it in the final seconds, setting up a 2nd overtime period. This time, Azovmash would not be denied. The visitors looked a little fresher than their Belarusian hosts and pulled out a 102-98 victory, helped by Tsmoki's inability to score in the final 2:23 of the game. Mariupol snaps its 3-game losing streak and pulls within half a game of 7th place in Group B. 

Star of the Game
Terrell Stoglin. The American guard's debut in the VTB United League couldn't have gone much better. Stoglin dialed up a game-high 29 points as his consistent scoring played a big role in delivering an important road win.

Stat of the Game
29 - number of Azovmash free throws. Aggressive play on offense helped the team get to the line early and often, a key to its ultimate victory. Tsmoki-Minsk was unable to match its opponent's intensity and had to rely on frequent fouls to slow Azovmash down.

Quotes
Tsmoki-Minsk head coach Donaldas Kairys:
- This was a tough game. Undoubtedly, Azovmash looked stronger than it did earlier in the season. I don't really have any criticism of the players. They battled and did what they could. But, unfortunately, it wasn't enough for a win. The Ukrainians played well at the end--they made the shots they needed to make.

Azovmash head coach Zvezdan Mitrovic:
- Because of the busy schedule, we had just one day to prepare. I know several of the Tsmoki-Minsk players--Hunter, Korsuk, Mirkovic--from when they played in Ukraine. I think the fans enjoyed the game. Two overtimes are always exciting. Thankfully, fortune smiled our way in the final minutes, given both teams deserved a win in this game.

Top Performers
Tsmoki-Minsk: Keith Benson - 25 points, eight rebounds; Demonte Harper - 18 points; Branko Mirkovic - 14 points; Tyrone Brazelton - 13 points, four assists.

Azovmash: Terrell Stoglin - 29 points; Marcus Ginyard - 19 points; Kyrylo Natyazhko - 11 points, seven rebounds; Dmytro Zabirchenko - 11 points; Maksym Lutsenko - 10 points.