CSKA Moscow survives Zalgiris challenge to remain in first place

CSKA Moscow extended its home-court winning streak to 14 games by rallying to beat Zalgiris Kaunas 95-86 on Friday in the Russian capital. CSKA remains in sole possession of first place with a 7-1 record, while Zalgiris dropped to 2-6. The reigning champs were led by 25 points from Milos Teodosic, who before the game received the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP for October trophy from the hands of Andrey Vatutin, CSKA Moscow President and Chief Executive Officer. Zalgiris led for the majority of the first three quarters behind a career-night from veteran power forward Paulius Jankunas, but CSKA kept it close with Teodosic scoring 18 of his points before halftime. Zalgiris led 40-41 at the break, and remained in front until the fourth quarter when Aaron Jackson and Jeff Ayers fueled an 11-2 run that put CSKA in front for good. Jackson netted 19 points, Cory Higgins had 15 points and 6 assists, while Ayers collected 13 points on 11-of-12 free throw shooting and 7 rebounds, all in the final 14 minutes of the game. CSKA made a EuroLeague club record 37 free throws, which is also the most free throws made in a single EuroLeague game since 2007. CSKA’s 43 free throw attempts were the most in a single game since 2009. For Zalgiris, apart from Jankunas’s effort of 30 points and 8 rebounds, Kevin Pangos had 14 points and 6 assists and Arturas Milaknis netted 11 in defeat.