Hezonja and Brown duo combine for 43 points as UNICS erase double-digit deficit to beat ALBA / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Roman Kruchinin/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Image Credit Roman Kruchinin/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Image

Despite a slow start, UNICS Kazan (6-5) picked up a pace, erased a double-digit deficit, and closed Turkish Airlines EuroLeague double week with two wins.

Player of the Game EFF 31 Lorenzo Brown Points 21 Accuracy 9-15 Rebounds 5 Assists 9

UNICS 85-71 (13-26, 27-22, 19-12, 26-11) beat the visiting ALBA Berlin (3-8) team, which suffered their third defeat in a row.

After a strong finish in the second quarter, UNICS immediately came back to the game after halftime. Mario Hezonja scored four points in a row, Tonye Jekiri and Lorenzo Brown added two mid-range jumpers, and after an 8-0 run the hosts tied the game (48-48).

UNICS took complete control in the final period. Lorenzo Brown made 2+1 play, Mario Hezonja added one free throw, Isaiah Canaan hit a midrange shot, and with 3:49 left to play, the hosts were leading 73-66.

Moments later, Hezonja hit both free throws, and the Russian club gained a comfortable 9-point lead with 3 minutes left.

For the winners, Hezonja scored 22 points (7/8 2PT, 1/7 3PT, 5/7 FT), 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 6 drawn fouls, 3 turnovers, and 28 PIR.

"At halftime, we said we're not playing good and we needed to step up our effort on the defensive side," Hezonja said after the game. "That’s what we did and that’s why we won. We have to keep doing this because we’re a very good team when we’re doing that."

Lorenzo Brown added 21 points (7/11 2PT, 2/4 3PT, 1/1 FT), 9 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 31 PIR.

ALBA had control of the game in the first quarter. Maodo Lo sank both free throws, Luke Sikma and Oscar Da Silva added two baskets in a row, and the visitors finished the first period on a 10-0 run to gain a 13-point lead – 26-13.

The German club continued its dominance in the second quarter. Jaleen Smith made two 3-pointers in a row, added a couple of free throws, and made a solo 10-4 run, after which ALBA were leading by 17 points (36-19).

UNIKS Kazan / Schedule

UNIKS Kazan AX Armani Exchange Milan97-71 UNIKS Kazan ALBA Berlin85-71 Crvena Zvezda Belgrade UNIKS Kazan11-2618:00

However, that was a wake-up call for UNICS. Mario Hezonja scored 5 points in a row, Lorenzo Brown added a 3-pointer, Viacheslav Zaitcev converted both free-throws, and after UNICS 13-3 run, the hosts were trailing by only 7 points (32-39).

The situation didn’t change much, and ALBA went into halftime leading 48-40.

Christ Koumadje finished with a double-double, accumulating 12 points (4/5 2PT, 4/6 FT), 12 rebounds, 1 turnover, and 21 PIR.

Janis Timma made his UNICS debut and in 8 minutes of playing time, he scored 3 points (1/1 3PT), 1 steal, 1 turnover, and 2 PIR.

"Overall it was a very difficult victory for us, especially after the very bad start," UNICS coach Velimir Perasovic said post-game. " Our defense was the worst it has been since I have been coaching here. Fortunately, we changed everything in the second half and we held a very good offensive team to just 23 points in the second half."

UNICS: Mario Hezonja 22 (7/8 2PT, 1/7 3PT, 7 REB, 28 PIR), Lorenzo Brown 21 (7/11 2PT, 9 AST, 31 PIR), Tonye Jekiri 11 (4/5 2PT).

ALBA: Christ Koumadje 12 (4/5 2PT, 12 REB, 21 PIR), Jaleen Smith 12, Luke Sikma 11 (5/6 2PT, 7 REB).

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