Sant-Roos Leads UCAM Murcia's Dominant Display Over Lleida (125-98)

UCAM Murcia needed a response after falling to Peristeri in the Basketball Champions League, and they found it in emphatic fashion. In front of 5,924 spectators at the Palacio de los Deportes, Sito Alonso's team overwhelmed iLERNA Lleida in a night when almost everything went right on offense. The victory restores their record to .500, while Gerard Encuentra's team continues to struggle defensively.

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A first quarter that decided everything

Lleida led on the scoreboard for just over a minute, but that was the extent of their advantage. UCAM Murcia quickly found their rhythm with their second unit and good ball movement, closing the first quarter with 34 points. Michael Forrest punished from beyond the arc and Jean-Marc Pansa made the most of his minutes in the paint. At halftime, the 60-40 scoreline had the game essentially decided.

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• Peristeri Raids the Palacio Against UCAM Murcia (72-80)

Sant-Roos, Efficiency Across the Board

Howard Sant-Roos was the game's standout performer. In just over 21 minutes, he didn't miss a free throw or a two-pointer, made five of six three-pointers and added five rebounds. Forrest and Dylan Ennis completed the perimeter trio that dismantled Lleida's defense. Inside, Emanuel Cate provided the muscle and was Sito Alonso's most-used player.

Lleida Holds One Quarter, Falls Apart in the Fourth

The third quarter was the only stretch where iLERNA Lleida matched UCAM Murcia (25-25), with James Batemon unstoppable from the free-throw line and Zacharie Perrin battling in the paint. Still, the 20-point lead never dropped enough to put pressure on the home team. In the fourth quarter, UCAM Murcia scored 40 points, led by as much as 30 and put up a lopsided final score. Lleida's 16 turnovers—double their opponent's total—weighed on them all night.

A Defensive Problem That Keeps Repeating

For Lleida, the loss confirms a troubling trend: after allowing 122 points to Real Madrid the previous game, they give up over 120 again. Batemon, Darius McGhee and Melvin Ejim carried the offense, but Encuentra's team remains at just one win and has the worst point differential in the Liga Endesa at this early stage. UCAM Murcia, meanwhile, strings together two wins in the domestic competition and climbs back into the middle of the standings.