FanPost

Pecherov Powers Ukraine Past Hungary


Go Oleksiy Pecherov!

Eurobasket 2009

Oleksiy Pecherov turned in his best performance in a Ukraine shirt and in the process carried the national team to victory over Hungary on Friday.

With just one victory in their previous three EuroBasket Relegation Round games, Ukraine got 28 points from Pecherov in a 77-69 victory to leave both sides with 2-2 records.

The contest was a marked contrast to their first meeting in Szombathely on August 5, when Ukraine trailed 40-37 at half-time but were then blown out 91-67.

The 23-year-old Pecherov, who was traded from the Washington Wizards to the Minnesota Timberwolves in June, also grabbed an eye-popping 17 rebounds in Friday's game.

Ukraine dominated the boards, out-rebounding Hungary 59-33.

Hungary led 45-32 with 7:16 remaining in the third quarter but didn't press home the advantage.
Instead Ukraine battled back and took a 57-56 lead two minutes into the last quarter on a jump shot by Sergio Gladyr.

They didn't go in front for good until midway through the period, though, when Dmytro Gliebov split two free-throws and Pecherov followed with a thunderous dunk.

David Vojvoda's three-point play trimmed the deficit for Hungary to 65-64 with 3:32 remaining, but Pecherov responded with a three-pointer and then hit two free-throws as Ukraine took command for good.