Belgian champion Spirou Basket Charleroi edged closer to a long-awaited return to the Euroleague with a 75-69 victory over Unics Kazan. Brent Wright (203-F/C-78, agency: Agency No 10, college: Florida) was the leading player for the hosts with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. He reached valuation 25 and was the MVP of this meeting. Dwayne Broyles (196-F/G-82, college: JMU) and Christopher Hill (191-G-83, college: Michigan St.) (7 rebs) helped the hosts with 14 and 13 points respectively. In Unics, Maciej Lampe (210-C-85) scored 19 points and pulled down 5 rebounds. Marko Popovic (185-G-82, college: S.Idaho JC) had 18 points and 8 assists.
Charleroi opened this game better as they made 15-7 lead in the first ten minutes. The hosts closed Q1 with nice 7-0 run thanks to baskets by Brent Wright, Joseph Gomis and Christopher Hill. Nothing has changed at the beginning of the second quarter as Charleroi was still dominating, what resulted with their first double-digit lead. Rizvic and Veremeenko responded for Unics closing the gap to 30-25, but Dwayne Broyles exploded in the finish of the first half lifting his team up to 39-27. Charleroi reached impressive 49-31 at the beginning of Q3 and Unics was in big trouble. Fortunately to them, Marko Popovic made a triple, after what Zakhar Pashutin and Veremeenko connected baskets. Unics created 2-9 run and managed to close the gap to 53-46 with one quarter left. Charleroi had plus 13 during the last period, but mostly owing to Marko Popovic Unics came within five in the final minute. Gomis made it with a foul and Popovic scored the last basket in this game setting the score 75-69 after first 40 minutes. Second Game is scheduled for Friday in Kazan.

Charleroi: Brent Wright 19+10 boards+5 as, Dwayne Broyles 14, Christopher Hill 13
Unics: Maciej Lampe 19+5 boards, Marko Popovic 18+8 as