Lukoil Academic won with ease

Stoykov-the best today (photo:BulgarianBasket.com)

17-10-2009 20:04

Today in Sofia at the start of Men National basketball league there was no derby. The champion Lukoil Academic outplayed the Cup winner Levski and the difference of 12 points at the end, 83-95, was made in the final minutes. During most of the time Lukoil was ahead by around 20 points and the biggest lead was 26.

The champions started much better the game leading 11-4 and 15-7. The head coach of Levski took a time out but that didn't help as until the end of the quarter Lukoil went ahead 27-12 as the players missed only two of their shot attempts. In the second quarter Levski started with four straight points but Lukoil quickly answered back. The players of the visitors had a very good night and their shooting was great. In those minutes the captain of the team Todor Stoykov was getting into rhythm and Lukoil built a 41-20 lead. Even at that time it was clear that it would be very difficult for Levski to get back in the game. In the final moments of the first half Stoykov hit two straight three-pointer and made the score 33-56 at the break.

In the first 20 minutes Lukoil Academic had very good shooting percentage - 19 from 25 attempts (75%) for 2 points and 7 from 9 (78%) for 3 points. Levski's total shooting on the other side was 12 from 37 (32%) and that reflected on the scoreboard.

In the third quarter Lukoil Academic kept the big lead as the difference was rarely goind down under 20 points. In the last quarter Levski was loosing by 20 after the first three minutes, 61-81. Then the hosts had good minutes and made the score 81-89 with 2.42 to play. However they couldn't do more as Lukoil Academic closed out the game and showed to everybody that once again will be the team to beat in Bulgaria.

Very good game had the captain Todor Stoykov. He finished with 30 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. He was 5/5 for 2 points, 4/6 for 3 points and 8/9 from the free throw lane. Branko Mirkovic and Ernest Brown had 13 points apiece while Isaac Wells had double double with 11 points and 11 rebounds including a great alley oop dunk from Walker Russel pass.

Top scorer for Levski was Aaron Harper with 23 points, but most of them were when the game was decided. Stanislav Slaveykov added 18 and 6 rebounds and Donald Cole 13 points.

Next week Levski will have another tough game as the team will travel to Varna to meet Cherno more who will be hungry for second straight win while Lukoil Academic will host Rilski Sportist in Pravets.