BC Wolves mark triumphant return to Alytus in win over Juventus
2023.11.05
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BC Wolves mark triumphant return to Alytus in win over Juventus

The BC Wolves (7-1) returned to Alytus for one match on Sunday evening and went on to bag their third straight victory in the Betsafe-LKL.

Kęstutis Kemzura's players beat Utena's Uniclub Casino-Juventus team (5-3) to the score of 77:71 (19:21, 22:17, 16:15, 20:18) and are currently tied for second place with Vilnius Rytas (7-1) in the league's win-loss standings.

From the game's opening minutes, the teams went head-to-head. After the first quarter, the visitors from Utena had a slim advantage (21:19), and after the second - the home team managed to wrestle back the lead (41:38).

After the halftime break, the Wolves managed to stay in front, but their advantage began to widen in the fourth quarter when both teams were separated by double-digits for the first time (66:55).

However, this lead did not deter the Utena players - Brae Ivey's nine straight points brought his team closer within one field goal (68:70). The team from Vilnius woke up just in time to muster a better defensive effort and scored enough points in crucial possessions - capped by Kristupas Žemaitis' dunk with 20 seconds remaining (77:70). The final horn signaled yet another win for the streaking Wolves.

K. Žemaitis stood out the most for the victors, scoring 11 points, distributing 5 assists, grabbing 6 rebounds, and collecting 19 EFF points. Rasheed Sulaimon (13 points), Džoržje Gagić (13 points), Tre'shawn Thurman (12 points) and Christian Mekowulu (9 points, 5 blocks, 17 EFF) also contributed significantly to the club's 7th win.

Ivan Vraneš, who scored 17 points, and B. Ivey, who added 16 markers were the bright spots for Juventus. Both collected 20 EFF each.

The Vilnius-based club is still without Jeffery Taylor and Eigirdas Žukauskas, who was recently not part of the lineup. Both watched the game in street clothes. Ryan Taylor did not suit up for Uniclub Casino-Juventus.

Almost 1,300 spectators were present to watch the game in Alytus.

In their next Betsafe-LKL game, the BC Wolves will face league-leading Kaunas Žalgiris (8-0) on Sunday in the Lithuanian capital.

BC Wolves: Džordže Gagičius and Rasheed Sulaimon 13 each, Tre'shawn Thurman 12, Kristupas Žemaitis 11, Christian Mekowulu 9, Vaidas Kariniauskas 8, Regimantas Miniotas 6, Vitalijs Kozys 5. Adas Juškevičius and Arnas Beručka played but both went scoreless.

Uniclub Casino - Juventus: Ivan Vraneš 17, Brae Ivey 16, Marius Valinskas 11.