Morrison scores 42 in Nacional's win; Biguá survives Minas’ comeback attempt

 MONTEVIDEO (Uruguay) - Biguá and Nacional pulled the home team sweep as they defeated Minas and Quimsa, respectively, Wednesday night at Antel Arena in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Americans Victor Rudd and Dominique Morrison dazzled the crowd with dominant performances to help their teams to key victories.

BIGUA 96 - 91 MINAS

A little too close for comfort, but Biguá will take it nonetheless.

After being up by double-digits throughout most of the game, Biguá saw their lead get cut down to a single possession before pulling through against Minas, 96-91.

Behind majestic performances from Victor Rudd and Donald Sims, the Uruguayans avenged a 22-point loss to the Brazilians in December and tied them at the top of Group C of the 2021-22 edition of the Basketball Champions League Americas.

Rudd flirted with a triple-double before finishing with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists.

 

The big man from Los Angeles was on fire from everywhere and his team was happy to feature him within the offense.

“I’m feeling better with the system, with the team,” Rudd said. “They’re adjusting to me and we’re getting better as the day goes.”

Rudd shot 5/11 from long distance and used the threat of his outside shot to generate offense inside the arc as well.

 

Sims completed the 1-2 punch by adding 24 points on 8/17 from the field.

The Appalachian State graduate had an uncharacteristic 6 turnovers but dished 4 assists and finished 8/10 at the free throw line.

 

Minas just refused to go away though.

The Brazilians won the third quarter 25-21 and clawed their way back into the game in the final stanza.

Shaquille Johnson scored 16 of his 22 after halftime and was very close to becoming the comeback’s hero, as Minas got within 3 points (80-77) with 5:03 to go until the end of regulation.

 

Brazilians Gui Santos (14 points), Alexey Borges (10) and Renan Lenz (11) also scored in double digits for the away team, that lost their first game of the competition.

These teams and Obras Sanitarias (0-4) will face off again on March 14-16 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

 

NACIONAL 91 - 81 QUIMSA

“I just work hard, work on my craft.”

Dominique Morrison succinctly summed up how he was able to complete his 42-point explosion in leading Nacional to a 91-81 win over Quimsa.

The pride and joy of Kansas City, Missouri had a momentous showing, finishing 16/26 from the field after playing all but 31 seconds of the game Wednesday night.

 

Morrison capped his sensational evening with a steal and a pullup three-pointer, to the delight of the delirious Uruguayan crowd.

He added 6 rebounds, 3 steals and a pair of rebounds in a well-rounded effort.

 

The game was an entertaining, back-and-forth affair as Nacional took a 9-point lead into halftime before Quimsa roared back in the third quarter.

Led by Franco Baralle, the Argentinians erased the deficit and pulled ahead, 70-66, heading into the final period.

 

Baralle finished with 24 points on 9/13 from the field, including a sizzling 5/9 from long range.

He had plenty of help, as Eric Anderson notched a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double and Juan Brussino (14) and Sebastián Acevedo (13) also scored in double digits.

 

However, the home team stayed poised, regained the lead, and put the ball in the hands of their best player.

Morrison did the rest, scoring 15 of his 42 in the fourth quarter.

It was a vital triumph for Nacional (1-3) – their first in the 2021-22 edition of BCL Americas – allowing them to stay alive in Group B play.

Conversely, the setback leaves Quimsa with the same 1-3 record, far from the undefeated Sao Paulo (4-0). These teams will face off again in Brazil in early March.

 

FIBA