SC Derby hang on and lock up the win against Mornar-Barsko zlato

AdmiralBet ABA League Round 8, Monday, 11 November 2024:

SC DERBY - Mornar-Barsko zlato 99:91 (23:17, 25:15, 27:30, 24:29)

PHOTO GALLERY
POST-GAME COMMENTS

Game recap: In a Montenegro matchup, SC Derby faced off against Mornar-Barsko zlato in Podgorica. SC Derby dominated in the first half, leading 23:17 at the end of the first quarter and extending their advantage to 48:32 by halftime. They outscored Mornar-Barsko zlato 25:15 in the second quarter. SC Derby showcased their strength early in the third quarter, achieving their largest lead of 21 points following a slam dunk by Emir Hadžibegović.

However, Mornar-Barsko zlato mounted a fierce comeback, steadily reducing the deficit and finishing the third quarter down by 13 points, aided by Branden Jenkins' buzzer-beater. As the final quarter unfolded, Mornar-Barsko zlato continued to battle, slicing the lead down to single digits. Despite their efforts, SC Derby's earlier lead proved insurmountable, and they ultimately secured the win.

Key moments: In a key stretch of the game, SC Derby held a narrow lead of 27:23 at the 7:17 mark of the second quarter. They then launched a pivotal run, outscoring Mornar-Barsko zlato 17:3, which took them to a commanding 44:26 lead by the 2:41 mark of the quarter, their largest of the game at that point. During this decisive run, Igor Drobnjak was instrumental, contributing 9 points. This surge established a significant lead for SC Derby, one that Mornar-Barsko zlato struggled to overcome for the remainder of the game.

Man of the match: The Man of the Match was Zoran Nikolić from SC Derby, who delivered an outstanding performance. He scored 21 points on an impressive 9-for-10 shooting from the field, with all his baskets coming from inside the paint. In addition to his scoring, Nikolić contributed significantly on the boards with 7 rebounds, showcased his playmaking ability with 4 assists, and made his presence felt defensively with 2 steals and 2 blocks. His dominant performance was crucial in leading SC Derby to victory.

Can't trick the stats: Points in the paint were a big factor tonight. SC Derby controlled the game down low, they scored 54 points in the paint while Mornar-Barsko zlato scored just 36. Mornar-Barsko zlato was struggling to defend the post as SC Derby scored more than half of their points in the paint.