Strong third quarter is enough for Balkan to defeat Navico Akademija FMP at home

BC Balkan recorded its third win in a row in Delasport Balkan League. The Botevgrad team hosted KK Navico Akademija FMP and took 80-71 victory after a hard-fought contest. The Greens played very good defense in the third quarter which allowed them to go up by double-digits and held on until the end. Now Balkan has 3-1 record and will host Hapoel Nufar Energy Galil Elion on December 21st. FMP on the other side is 0-4 in the standings and next week will welcome Levski at home in an important game for both sides in the battle for a spot in the Second Stage.

The first half was really close as the teams put up a serious fight with no one being able to take any big advantage. The hosts were the team to have the lead but the visitors were close and at the break the difference was just 3 points.

All changed early in the second half which Balkan opened with a 15-5 run to go up by 13. The home side controlled the game after that as the difference stayed the same once the third quarter finished. In the last one the visitors tried to close the gap and they did so near the end but never threathened the hosts.

Derrick Marks was the top scorer for the winners with 21 points as he also added 5 assists. Travin Thibodeaux also did well with 15 points and 8 rebounds as Kahlil Dukes had 13 points and 9 assists.

The visitors were led by Billy Ivey who had 21 points and 5 assists. Nedeljko Kosanin had 13 points and 5 rebounds as Leonid Todorovski had 10 and 6.

BOXSCORE