MoraBanc Andorra edges Zaragoza 113-111 in OT thriller

MoraBanc Andorra claimed a dramatic 113-111 overtime victory over Casademont Zaragoza on Friday night at the packed Poliesportiu d'Andorra, drawing both sides further from the ACB relegation fight led by San Pablo Burgos.

The clash featured Andorra coach Zan Tabak facing his former mentor Joan Plaza in Plaza's Zaragoza debut, drawing mixed cheers and jeers from the 3,608 fans in the Bombonera after a month without league play. Andorra leaned on clutch free throws from Kyle Kuric, who scored 16 points and hit critical shots under pressure despite the roaring crowd.

Debutant Sir'Jabari Rice shone with 19 points, filling the gap left by injured Shannon Evans and limited play from Kennedy Udeze. Yves Pons added 19 points with key threes and blocks, while Artem Pustovyi tallied 15 despite just two practices post-Ukraine duty.

Andorra took a 24-19 first-quarter edge behind Pustovyi's early five points and Rice's debut triple. Zaragoza rallied in the second with back-to-back threes from Santi Yusta and a Devin Robinson dunk, tying it 44-44 at halftime after an unsportsmanlike call on Rice.

The third quarter built Andorra's lead to 76-64, driven by Rafa Luz drives, a Kostadinov dunk, and Luz's buzzer-beater. Zaragoza stormed back with triples from Marko Spissu, Dubljević, and Umude Washington. Yusta's free throws gave the visitors a 92-87 edge late in the fourth.

Rice answered inside for 91-92, then matched Washington's free throws at 93-94. Dubljević fouled out amid tension with fans, but Spissu's three made it 96-93. With 7.3 seconds left, Kuric drew a foul on a three-point attempt, sinking all three to tie it 96-96. DJ Stephens missed Zaragoza's final shot.

Overtime opened with Pustovyi inside dominance and a Luz three for a 101-98 lead. Pons's triple pushed it to 106-100, but Johnathan Wright-Foreman (19 points) and Yusta (28, game-high) fought back. Fouls sidelined Rice and Pustovyi, but Kuric responded. Yusta's corner three tied it 111-111 with 3.3 seconds left. Kuric drew another three-shot foul, converting two of three—missing the last as time expired—for the win.

**Scoring summary** **MoraBanc Andorra (113):** Best 10, Luz 5, Rice 19, Okoye 7, Kostadinov 5, McKoy 13, Kuric 16, Guerrero 4, Pons 19, Pustovyi 15. Coach: Zan Tabak. **Casademont Zaragoza (111):** Spissu 14, Robinson 13, Wright-Foreman 19, Yusta 28, Washington 11, Dubljević 17, DJ Stephens 6. Coach: Joan Plaza. **Quarter scores:** 24-19, 20-25, 32-20, 20-32, 17-15 (OT). **Referees:** Jordi Aliaga, Martín Caballero, Carlos Merino. **Fouled out:** Rice, Pustovyi (Andorra). **Attendance:** 3,608.