Rilski Sportist handed Kozuv first loss of the season after drama in Gevgelija

BC Rilski Sportist handed KK Kozuv first loss of the season in EUROHOLD Balkan League. The team from Samokov fought very hard from start to finish and won 74-72 in dramatic fashion in away Gevgelija. The game was decided in the final minute when we had three lead changes. Both teams had the chance to win but at the end the Rilski did better. The next match for both teams is on February 25th as they meet each other in Samokov. Kozuv is leading the group with 3 wins and 1 defeat while Rilski is second with Sigal Prishtina with 2-2 record.

A 10-0 run by Kozuv gave them the lead at 12-4. A few minutes later Rilski managed to tie the score at 14 points but the next basket was for the hosts. The visitors though responded with 13-0 run between the end of the first and the start of the second quarters to go up by 11 points. Kozuv responded with 8-0 in a row to cut the deficit and soon after that the game was tied. Until the break both teams exchanged baskets as after 20 minutes Rilski was up by 2.

The second half started with 8-0 run for the visitors which gave them their second double digit lead of the game. The first basket for Kozuv came with over five minutes played and soon after they cut the deficit to 4 after two straight three-pointers. Yordan Bozov thouch was fouled and scored twice from the free throw line but later the gap went down to 2. Norfleet added an important triple for Rilski and they led by 3 after 30 minutes as Albijanic scored for the home side.

The hosts finally took the lead when Pekovic made a three-pointer with 5.45 to go for 59-57. The visitors tied immediately but then Kozuv scored 7 in a row and pulled away. Rilski however scored 5 points very quickly and with minute to play they cut the deficit to 1. Kozuv missed their offense and Rakocevic scored to give Rilski the lead. However Vladimir Brckov responded for the home team and gave them the lead but after that it was once again Rakocevic′s turn who scored with 10 seconds to go to put the visitors up by 1. Then Filip Sepa lost the ball and then Zlatin Georgiev was fouled. He made only the first free throw and then Brckov′s attempt from the center of the court was far away from going in.

Yordan Bozov had very good game for the winners with 29 points. Tony Gugino added 17 and 11 rebounds while Zarko Rakocevic had 13 points, including 7 in a row in the final two minutes when the game was decided.

For the home team Vladimir Brckov had 18 points and 4 rebounds while Miladin Pekovic added 12 points.

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FULL STATS FROM THE GAME KK KOZUV - BC RILSKI SPORTIST