No upset for Lukoil Academic, Stoykov makes the difference again

Todor Stoykov with another strong performance

05-12-2008 20:14

Despite all problems with their roster of the last month or so, Lukoil Academic showed champion character and didn't allow Rilski Sportist to spring a surprise. Tonight they won 89-74 to stay on top while Rilski Sportist will hold on to 5th place with a 4-5 record. Lukoil Academic played without Kevin Kruger, who had just left the team to return to the USA, and Chavdar Kostov, who had sustained an injury. Of course, Todor Stoykov played a major role in the win once again. Despite committing a few turnovers he was the leader of the team and finished with 20 points, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Yet again he showed he is a class above everyone and he is the difference between his team and the others in the country, when there are no American players in the roster.

The game started well for the hosts as Lukoil Academic scored the first 14 points of the game. With 4'26'' to go in the first quarter Ivan Lilov scored twice from the free throw line to make it 14-2. Boev scored with 2 minutes to play to cut his team's deficit to 15-9 and the quarter finished at 18-11.

In the first two minutes of the second quarter the visitors cut the score to 20-14 but then a 15-0 run for the hosts gave them a 35-14 lead. But from that moment until the end of the first half the players of Rilski Sportist doubled their points while Lukoil scored only 4 for a 39-28 score at the halftime.

Ivan Nikolov netted the opening basket in the third quarter to cut the result to less than 10 points for the first time in a while. The visitors scored the next 4 points as well and cut their deficit to only 5. A triple by Ivan Lilov made it 47-43 with 3'28'' to go to end of the period, but then Lukoil opened a 10-point lead again. Then the visitors replied with 4 points and the quarter finished at 58-52.

In the last 10 minutes the hosts started to play much better, especially in offense and deserved their win. The difference went up to 22 with 2'18'' to go, but then the Lukoil players relaxed a bit and during the last few minutes conceded 10 straight points before Hristo Nikolov scored a three-pointer to settle the final score at 89-76.

Besides the excellent Stoykov, Riste Stefanov played well too and made 5 three-pointers for a total of 17 pts. Hristo Nikolov added 16 off the bench and the only American left in the roster Kenny Adeleke recorded his 9th double double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

For the visitors from Samokov Ivan Lilov topscored with 18 points while point guard Branko Mirkovic added 14, to go with 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Asen Saraliyski played very well off the bench to finish with 11 points and 5 rebounds.

In the next round of the NBL Rilski Sportist hosts Levski in Samokov but before that the team will play against Fersped Rabotnicki on Wednesday, in a home tie from Group B of the Eurohold Balkan League.

Lukoil Academic have an away game from the NBL versus CSKA in Sofia, but only after they have attempted a first win in the Eurocup, where they host Latvians Barons LMT in a Group B game. It is not yet clear if new point guard Toni Akins will be able to take part in that one. He is yet to arrive in Bulgaria and join his new teammates and remains to be seen whether the management of Lukoil will successfully register him in time for the Tuesday night game and thus solve their "riddle" at the point.

FULL STATS OF THE LUKOIL ACADEMIC - RILSKI SPORTIST GAME

CURRENT STANDING IN THE NBL

SCHEDULE AND SCORES IN THE NBL

INDIVIDUAL STATS IN THE NBL

TEAM STATS IN THE NBL

DOUBLE DOUBLE STANDING IN THE NBL

ATTENDANCE STANDING IN THE NBL

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