Lukoil Academic scored season-high 116 points

O'Bannon scored 19 points

04-03-2008 20:20

Lucoil Academic had no difficulties defeating Rilski Sportist and winning its 26th consecutive game today. They scored a season high 116 points for the final result of 116-80.

That was the last game for Rilski Sportist in "SU Nikola Velchev Hall". From Saturday both men’s and women’s teams will be playing in their new "Arena Samokov".

The whole game was completely under Lukoil’s control. Most of the time Zeljko Lukaic used his main players throughout most of the game and it wasn’t until the final minutes of the game that he let his younger players in.

Pero Antic proved his magnificent form again by finishing with 34 points missing only 2 of his 12 field goals and only once from the free-throw line (8/9). He also added 2 three-pointers to a total index rating of 37, the best in the game.

Larry O’Bannon was in the starting line-up and finished with 19 points, 5 rebound and 4 steals while Willie Deane scored 18 points in only 17 minutes on the court.

The Dominican Santos Martines was the most productive player for the hosts with his 23 points. HDI All Star participant Alexander Gruev finished with 20.

Three of Petko Delev’s main players didn’t take part in the game due to injuries. Ilko Nanev is with a broken palm bone and is out till the mid-April. Andrean Ilchev is with torn Achilles tendon and he will be out for long. The forward will undergo a surgery tomorrow. Momchil Petrov has a torn muscle and is also going to watch the game from the stands. That forced Delev to give a chance to his younger players such as Ivaylo Vuchkov, Krasimir Georgiev, Lyubomir Kirov and the youngest Darin Ivanov, born in 1991.

The game was also the last official test for Lukoil Academic before they meet Dinamo Moscow for the ULEB Cup next Tuesday (11th March) in "Universiada Hall", Sofia.

Both Rilski Sportist and Lukoil will play their next games in the Bulgarian A-1 in almost a month. On 2nd April Lukoil Academic are hosting Yambol while Rilski Sportist will try to surprise CSKA for a second time in Sofia.

The final three games before the pause for the HDI All Star game and the Bulgarian Cup are tomorrow. All of them will be very interesting and especially the derby between Levski and CSKA.

FULL STATS FROM THE GAME LUKOIL ACADEMIC - RILSKI SPORTIST