The Vilnius Wolves Twinsbet (4-3) secured a hard-fought victory in the Lithuanian Basketball League (Betsafe-LKL), defeating Šiauliai – Casino Admiral (3-4) at home with a score of 103:93 (23:19, 26:24, 25:26, 29:24).

Although the visitors from Šiauliai opened the game stronger (5:2), Anthony Cowan and Kristupas Žemaitis quickly turned the tide in favor of the Wolves, pushing the score to 10:5. However, a strong stretch from Lukas Uleckas kept the hosts from pulling away, and Tauras Jogėla levelled the score at 19:19.

The second quarter saw Vilnius break out with an impressive three-point shooting spree: Vaidas Kariniauskas hit once from beyond the arc, while Tre'Shawn Thurman sank three triples, putting Wolves up 37:29. Following a basket by Garrison Brooks, the lead stretched to double digits at 40:29. Saulius Kulvietis and Mindaugas Kupšas rallied Šiauliai (38:40), but thanks to Jeff Taylor, Wolves Twinsbet held a slim lead at halftime, 49:43.

Gradually, the hosts began to pull away (55:45), while Šiauliai's coach Žydrūnas Urbonas received a technical foul. However, T. Jogėla, Gerry Blakes, and L. Uleckas narrowed the gap for Šiauliai, bringing it to 56:59. After a few intense minutes, the score was tied at 67:67, despite S. Kulvietis and V. Čižauskas being limited by four fouls each.

Wolves Twinsbet started to capitalize on their advantages and extended the lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter to 82:71. S. Kulvietis kept Šiauliai-Casino Admiral in the game (78:84), with M. Kupšas adding an and-one to bring them even closer at 81:84. T. Thurman worked to maintain the Wolves' lead, although the margin remained tight, with the teams separated by just six points at 97:91 with under two minutes to play.

Emotions ran high, leading to a scuffle that resulted in technical fouls for T. Jogėla and J. Taylor. The Wolves held on to their lead in the final minute, securing the victory.

Wolves Twinsbet: Anthony Cowan 20, Tre'Shawn Thurman 17 (5/7 3PT), Jeffery Taylor 16, Andrew Andrews 15, Vaidas Kariniauskas 9, Kristupas Žemaitis 8, Garrison Brooks 7, Regimantas Miniotas 6, Marek Blaževič 4, Daniel Baslyk 1. Matas Jogėla and Justinas Marcinkevičius did not play.

Šiauliai-Casino Admiral: Lukas Uleckas 19 (8 rebounds), Mindaugas Kupšas 18, Gerry Blakes 17.

(Photo by Saulius Čirba)