Ignas Brazdeikis posted 19 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds to lead Unicaja to its first Liga Endesa victory of the season, holding off a late surge from MoraBanc Andorra for a 92-84 win at the Palacio de los Deportes José María Martín Carpena in Málaga, Canal Sur reported.
The victory provides a welcome bounce-back for head coach Txus Vidorreta’s squad following narrow losses to Real Madrid and La Laguna Tenerife, alongside momentum from a midweek Basketball Champions League (BCL) win. For Andorra, the result keeps the team winless in domestic play after an early schedule disrupted by a postponed fixture.
Early Dominance and Offensive Efficiency
Unicaja set the tone early behind the backcourt leadership of Melwin Pantzar and Amine Noua, stretching their lead to nine points in the opening quarter behind perimeter shooting. Despite the early deficit, Andorra stayed within striking distance thanks to second-chance points generated off the offensive glass, closing the first frame down 24-20.
Diario Sur noted that Vidorreta deployed the same starting five of Pantzar, Tyson Hunt, Brazdeikis, Noua, and David Kravish across all four quarters, a unit that produced fluid ball movement and high-percentage looks. That rhythm translated to an exceptional shooting night for the hosts.
Andorra Fights Back Through Pustovyi and Akinjo
Andorra repeatedly tested Unicaja’s defensive resolve by leaning on center Artem Pustovyi, who finished with 19 points and 9 rebounds.
James Akinjo orchestrated another push after the intermission, directing a visitor run that trimmed the margin to six points and forced Vidorreta into a tactical timeout. As the physical intensity mounted—typified by a matchup in the paint between Willy Hernangómez and Leon Radosevic—Unicaja steadied its rotation.
Securing the Result Down the Stretch
While the outside shot cooled in the third period, Unicaja countered with aggressive drives from Hunt, who finished with 14 points, and Noua, who added 16 points and 9 rebounds alongside stellar playmaking from Kendrick Perry. A disciplined defensive zone helped the hosts restore order and maintain a 72-63 lead heading into the final frame.
Tabak noted after the final buzzer that while his team showed better stamina than in their season opener, their overall continuity of play remains a work in progress. For Unicaja, the 92-84 final score marks an essential step forward in establishing an identity before heading into their next domestic assignment.
Match Details and Statistics
The Round 3 fixture was played before 9,275 spectators, with the game overseen by referees Carlos Cortés, Joaquín García, and Ariadna Chueca.
Unicaja’s scoring breakdown across the quarters consisted of 24, 23, 25, and 20 points. Individual scorers for the hosts included Pantzar with 12 points, Hunt with 14, Brazdeikis with 19, Noua with 16, and Kravish with 12 in the starting lineup, complemented by bench contributions from Tyler Kalinoski (3), Jonathan Barreiro (0), Nihad Đedović (0), Melvin Thomas (0), Hernangómez (4), and Perry (12).
MoraBanc Andorra registered quarter scores of 20, 19, 24, and 21 points.
Para nosotros fue mejor este partido que el primero, poco a poco estamos donde queremos estar, no podemos ganar al equipo contrario si les dejas tirar un ochenta por ciento en tiros de dos
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