Quimsa erase 13-point deficit to get to 2-0

SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO (Argentina) – In a battle of 1-0 teams, it was Quimsa who came through victorious over Club Nacional de Montevideo 86-78 after trailing by as many as 13 points.

After a first quarter that ended 18-18 with no separation between either team, Nacional opened up an 11-point lead at halftime thanks to a 24-13 second quarter.

Quimsa flipped the script and won the second quarter 28-13 to take a four-point lead into the fourth quarter. They kept the momentum until the end and never gave up the lead for the rest of the game.

Juan Brussino was the star for Quimsa, finishing with 23 points (17 points in the second half), 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. The 32-year-old Argentine guard was very efficient in the win, shooting 45.5 percent from the field, 66.7 percent from the field and 90 percent from the free-throw line.

Quimsa assisted on 23 of their 27 total made shots while only committing 7 turnovers. They also forced Nacional into 13 turnovers and converted them into 18 points.

Nacional’s Michael Smith was the game’s top scorer with 25 points, as he also added 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

Quimsa improve to 2-0 and sit in first place in Group B, while Nacional fall to 1-1 and second place in the group. These two teams will square off again in their next game on January 17.

FIBA