Kyiv’s managed to hold on to the win against Superleague’s newcomers BC Donetsk after blowing a 17-point 3rd quarter lead.

The Ukrainian vice-champions had a more than confident start to the contest, gaining a double-digit advantage seven minutes into the match. They continued to roll as Clay Tucker and Kenan Bajramovic kept tearing the opposition down with Scoonie Penn contributing with his sharpshooting from beyond the ark.

Kyiv got into a 17-point lead by halftime and it looked like they would be able to easily finish the Tigers off. Donetsk, however, refused to throw a towel in, slowly clawing their way back into the game. They reduced the margin to 11 by the end of the 3rd frame.

The visitors started the final stanza with a 15:4 run, which was capped by Anders Rodrigues, who put his team up by one with three minutes to go in the quarter. Kyiv replied with a free throw, after which Donetsk PF Andrei Botichev had a chance to put the Tigers up by two from the charity stripe. He missed both free throws though and the home side went up by two after a second chance shot by Brent Wright.

Donetsk managed to tie the score at 67, Kyiv missed a three, but gained a crucial offensive rebound with 26 seconds to go. Donetsk fouled with 11 seconds on the clock, switching the shot clock of for the hosts.

A time-out was taken and Kyiv isolated Clay Tucker at the top of the key. He held on to the ball till the final second and fired a buzzer-beater, which went in, over the hands of PJ Tucker.

Kyiv’s Clay Tucker finished the contest with 18 points and 7 rebounds. Bajramovic added 15 and 9 boards.

PJ Tucker paced Donetsk with 19 points, while Igor Krivych contributed with 13.

Meanwhile, Kyiv’s Farm team had way less difficulty in dealing with Donetsk youngsters, cruising past them 79:54.