Lukoil continues to dominate

30-11-2007 20:14 | Александър Сотиров

Lukoil Academic’s domination in the Bulgarian championship continues. Today they crushed without any problems the thired team in the ranking – Spartak Pleven with 98-70 in the first game of the 11th round of Men’s First A-1.

The game was close in the beginning, after some nice plays from Spartak’s center – Sasha Topcov. One minute before the end of the first quarter the score was tied 19:19, but after 5 consecutive points by Topcov, the home side led it 24:19 after 10 minutes. At this time Topcov had 14 points, but actually he finished with 17 total.

The score was 27:21 at the 12th minute of the game, when the champions woke up, and for 6 minutes turned the things around and took the lead with 29:37.
At the end of the first half, after some reactions by Lukoil’s coach Zeljko Lukajic and the team star – Pero Antic, both of them received technical fouls, and Hrisimir Dimitrov scored 5 out of 6 free-throws, as that put Spartak back in the game. Dimitrov scored two more baskets and the score was tied at halftime – 41:41.

The third quarter was decisive. Lukoil Academic dominated and decided the game, after scoring 37 points against just 16 for Spartak, as the home team scored their first basket in the second half, in the 23rd minute of the game. There was a 10-0 run for Lukoil, and their lead grew ip to 43:60 at the 14th minute. Just for three and a half minutes, Lukoil Academic scored 19 points, against only 2 for Spartak. At the end of the third period, the Students were ahed with 57:58. The only bad thing for Academic is that Murilo Da Rosa sprained his ankle and did not finish the game. In the last quarter, the champions made their win even bigger – 70:98. In the second half Spartak Pleven had only 29 points against 57 for Lukoil Academic.

For Lukoil Academic the captain Todor Stoykov and Willie Deane were the top scorers with 17 points each. Donta Smith added 16, and Murilo Da Rosa had 15 before his injury. Pero Antic got off the bench for 14 points and 15 rebounds in 29 minutes.
For Spartak Hrisimir Dimitrov had the most – 18, Sasa Topcov added 17, as those two were the only ones in double digits.

That was win number 11 for Lukoil Academic in Bulgaria this season, as they remain unbeaten. Spartak Pleven lost for the 4th time this year, but Darin Velikov’s team hs 7 wins. The Students don’t have a loss in Bulgaria for 13 months. The last time they lost a game was against CSKA on October 28th 2006.

Lukoil Academic is travelling to France on Tuesday, as on Wednesday night they are facing Pau Orthez in the ULEB Cup.