Moscow used second quarter runs of 10-0 and 18-0 to blow the game wide open. Maciej Lampe added 15 points and Jorge Garbajosa collected 13 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists for Khimki. Vitaly Fridzon chipped in 11 points for the hosts, who hit 10 of 23 three-pointers and outrebounded Le Havre 40-32. Khimki’s next game is at Benetton, while Le Havre’s next contest is at home against Besiktas Cola Turka. The visitors were led by Fabien Causuer’s 14 points, while Marcus Slaughter collected 11 points and 14 rebounds and TJ Thompson had 10 points and 7 assists in a losing effort. The French side made just 4 of 31 from long range.

Mike Wilkinson opened the scoring with a free throw and then Lampe made it 3-0. The guests finally scored their first points after four minutes of action with Slaughter’s foul shots. He soon added a layup to give Le Havre a 3-6 lead. Delfino cut it back to 1 point on two occasions, but a Bingo Merriex dunk and Slaughter foul shot pushed Le Havre ahead 7-12. Delfino continued his fine game with a three-pointer, but Merriex hit again and the visitors led 10-14 after one period. Slaven Rimac extended the lead to 10-16 before Khimki turned up its defensive pressure. Vladimir Dyachok scored two baskets as Moscow ripped off the next 10 points to jump ahead 20-16. Aleksandar Bojic stopped the bleeding, but it was short-lived as Garbajosa knocked down 3 triples and Lampe tallied 5 points in Moscow’s 18-0 run to close the second quarter, leading 38-18 at the break.

Frizdon hit 2 foul shots and Lampe scored again as the run extended to 22-0 spanning the first and second half and Khimki led 42-18. Merriex knocked down a triple for Le Havre’s first score of the second half, but Delfino converted a layup and then nailed a three-ball, pushing the lead to 49-23. Thompson and Slaughter hit baskets. but the guests remained way behind 52-29 midway through the third period. A Lampe long ball extended the advantage to 28 points before Thompson’s triple trimmed the deficit to 59-34 after three quarters. Garbajosa opened the fourth and a three-pointer by Teemu Rannikko pushed the cushion to 30 points for the first time. Moscow did not let up the throttle with Fridzon and Delfino nailing three-balls for a 72-41 advantage. Causeur scored four baskets down the stretch, including two long balls but the game was long out of reach.

Kestutis Kemzura, The BC Khimki head coach:
"We are respectful to all opponents, but Le Havre is not a very strong team. This match was difficult for us psychologically. We started not well, we were constrained. But concentration in defense helped us to find self-reliance. The second period became decisive. After that we only increased the lead. And I had the possibility to give playing time to all my players."

Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Eurocupbasketball.com