Liepāja lets victory slip away in final minutes against Estonian champions Tartu

In the Latvian-Estonian basketball league, Liepāja came close to their first season win over an Estonian championship team but failed to score in the final two minutes, losing to Tartu University 83:87.

Liepāja's top scorer was Rodijs Mačoha, who put up 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Edvards Egle matched that point total, hitting three of five three-point attempts and adding a team-best four assists.

For Tartu, Roberts Valge proved decisive, sinking the go-ahead three-pointer half a minute before the final buzzer and then securing a crucial rebound that denied the home side a chance to save the game. Valge finished with 12 points, while Martins Pāsoja led the visitors with 20 points.

Course of the game

Liepāja briefly took the lead in the first quarter, but Tartu closed it out ahead 25:20. In the second quarter the visitors extended their lead to 11 points, and Liepāja went into the break trailing 42:48.

In the third quarter the home team closed the gap to a single point, but a scoring drought followed, allowing Tartu to rebuild an 11-point advantage. In the decisive final period Liepāja rallied, taking a three-point lead thanks to Egle's scoring, but failed to convert any shots in the closing minutes, which decided the outcome.

With the loss, Liepāja sit winless with two defeats in the standings. The team's next game is Saturday in Riga against VEF Rīga, who have three wins so far this season.