UNICS Kazan (6-1) remain at the top of the VTB United League standings by taking care of BC Astana (2-3) 71-59 (26-15, 10-16, 15-12, 20-16).
UNICS jumped out to a 20-10 lead in the first quarter after Mario Hezonja's free throw, but Astana retaliated, cutting their deficit to five going into the half (31-36).
The hosts continued putting pressure on the visitors from Kazakhstan, regaining a double-digit lead in the third period (46-34).
Astana were down by just eight in the fourth, but then UNICS went on a 12-0 run to gain their largest lead (67-47), and the visitors were unable to recover, losing by x.
Mario Hezonja led UNICS with 18 points (6/9 2PT, 0/4 3PT, 6/8 FT), 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers, and 23 PIR.
UNICS: Mario Hezonja 18 (9 REB), Jarrell Brantley 14 (9 REB), Lorenzo Brown 8, Dmitrii Uzinskii 8, Artem Komolov 6, John Brown 5 (8 REB).
Astana: Jaylen Barford 16, Antonio Campbell 12 (12 REB), Anthony Hickey 12 (6 AST), Rustam Murzagaliyev 6, Mark Tikhonenko 6.
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