KAUNAS, Lithuania — Žalgiris fans were rewarded for their perseverance with their team finally notching up their first win in the second round of Euroleague action.

The pickings have been slim for Žalgiris of late with their Euroleague campaign stuttering from defeat to defeat and their wins in the Baltic Basketball League not coming as easy as they would like. But as a poor February for the club comes to end, the team have finally been able to produce four consistent  quarters of basketball to hold out Unicaja 89-84.

In recent Eurobasket matches it has been an inability to sustain the pressure over four periods which has ultimately cost Žalgiris games they should have won, but on this occasion their game remained throughout. Going into the final period, Unicaja had reduced a lead which had been as big as seven to three, setting up a tense final period. However Žalgiris retained their nerve to match their guests point for point, sending the crowd into raptures when the final whistle finally sounded.

Dainius Šalenga was at his typical best with 17 points but it was the performances of bench players Martynas Pocius and Aleksandar Ćapin, who clocked in some big minutes for 17 and 14 points respectively, that ultimately won the game for the Lithuanians.

Following the game, Žalgiris’ coach Darius Maskoliūnas comments to euroleague.net were full of praise in regards to the efforts of his team.

“We stayed in the game even when our opponents built a small advantage and I am very proud about that,” Maskoluinas said.

Žalgiris will remain at home for their next Euroleague match on March 3, when they host Asseco Prokom from neighboring Poland.