VTB United League: win for CSKA

CSKA Moscow will hold top spot of the VTB United League heading into 2016 as the Army Men closed this year with a cruising 94-64 win over Enisey Krasnoyarsk. The victory consolidated CSKA Moscow at the top of the VTB United League standings with a 13-1 record, while Siberian based Enisey stayed ninth with a 5-8 record.

Enisey looked like it may get something from its long journey to the Russian capital on Saturday, but after testing CSKA early on the hosts soon made their superiority tell. The hosts are such an organized offensive unit that they could consistently pull away without ever really blowing Enisey away in one part of the game. Indeed, CSKA only ever scored 12 points without reply, but consistent scoring bursts meant the Moscow giant was always a step ahead.

CSKA Moscow saw its bench score 46 points, bettered by the starting five with 48 points. It was a united offence that stunted any flow Enisey had and meant CSKA could open a thirty point lead and hold it until the final buzzer. A high quality first quarter saw Enisey trail by just four points, 29-25, but CSKA Moscow ignited in the second frame with a 30-17 run that made it 59-42 through the long break. The hosts eased off in the second half and still managed to ease down the straight to victory.

Milos Teodosic scored 14 points and provided 8 assists for CSKA, while Joel Freeland and Vitaliy Fridzon also scored 14 points apiece. Cory Higgins scored 12 points and Nando De Colo scored 11 points.

Tony Taylor topped Enisey with 15 points, followed by Tim Ohlbrechet with 13 points.