Split put up a strong second half to beat Mornar-Barsko zlato

AdmiralBet ABA League Round 29, Monday, 28 April 2025:

Mornar-Barsko zlato - SPLIT 76:86 (23:19, 22:24, 19:24, 12:19)

PHOTO GALLERY
POST-GAME COMMENTS

Game recap: In the 29th round of the AdmiralBet ABA League, Split emerged victorious against Mornar-Barsko zlato with a score of 86-76. Split struggled initially, as Mornar-Barsko zlato quickly built a 9-point lead in the first quarter, led by Lovre Runjić's 11 points. By the end of the first quarter, however, Split narrowed the deficit to just 4 points thanks to Jordano's contributions.

Split allowed Mornar-Barsko zlato to score 16 points early on. Despite falling behind, Split found momentum with key plays from Kapusta and Škara, eventually cutting the Mornar lead to just 2 at halftime. Lovre Runjić was outstanding for Mornar-Barsko zlato against his former team, he dropped 20 points in the first half. In the second half, Split's offense surged with Jordano hitting two three-pointers. However, Mornar-Barsko zlato stayed competitive, closing the gap to just 1 point by the end of the third quarter. The final quarter began with Split quickly extending their lead to 9 points. Mornar-Barsko zlato made a late push to cut the deficit to 5 points, but Split maintained control with solid performances from Jordano and Škara, sealing their ninth victory of the season. 

Key moments: In the final quarter of the game, Split made a decisive move to pull away from Mornar-Barsko zlato. Just two minutes into the quarter, fueled by the strong performances of Kučić and Kapusta, Split quickly extended their lead to 9 points. This surge put Mornar-Barsko zlato on the back foot and forced their coach, Mihailo Pavićević, to call a timeout to regroup his team. During this critical stretch, the combination of effective offense and solid defense by Split kept Mornar-Barsko zlato at bay, preventing them from closing the gap significantly. This rhythm allowed Split to maintain their momentum and ultimately secure the victory.

Man of the Match: Antonio Jordano had an impressive game, contributing significantly to Split's success with his all-around performance. Along with scoring 22 points, he showcased his shooting ability by sinking 5 three-pointers, making him a considerable threat from long range. Furthermore, Jordano contributed 7 rebounds, demonstrating his versatility and effort on both ends of the court.

Can't trick the stats: Split was outstanding from beyond the arc tonight, this is where they managed to pull away from Mornar-Barsko zlato. Split hit 12 threes tonight, with big contributions coming from Jordano and Kapusta who hit 9 combined threes. Mornar-Barsko zlato on the other hand struggled beyond the arc shooting 7/24 from three-point range.