Russia got stretched, almost to breaking point before the Europeans could overcome tough Nigerian sides, D’Tigers in one of the opening games of the FIBA World Cup in China.
Russia won 82-77 in one match that will take a while to be forgotten. Gritty Nigerians! They were almost snatching an incredible win, especially in the last quarter when they got an astonishing lead after trailing in the earlier three quarters.
The upset came as close as it gets in the Group B opener. Mikhail Kulagin poured 12 points in the first half, added the two winning free throws and finished with a team-high 16 points.
Andrey Vorontsevich scored 14 points and Andrey Zubkov notched 12. Vitaly Fridzon went for 11 points.
Sergey Bazarevich’s national team jumped to an 11-point lead in the first quarter. Kulagin provided the answers for the first-half lead.
However, Nigeria turned the game around. After knotting the contest at 58 in the end of the third quarter, the African national team got a 68-60 lead midway through the fourth, but could not hold on.
Josh Okogie posted a game-high 18 points, but the 20-year-old forward lost the ball with the game tied at 75-75 in the last minute. His turnover allowed the Russians to get back in the lead.
Ike Iroegbu followed with 12 points and Nnamdi Vincent added 11 for Alexander Nwora’s side. Chimezie Metu and Jordan Nwora had 10 points apiece.
