Just when Crvena Zvezda is making a run to keep their unblemished record, Partizan is simply determined to bring the giant down.
Vanja Marinković answers every opponent's rally with his timely treys before Will Hatcher buried the dagger with 1:23 left to beat Crvena Zvezda, 86-81 at Aleksandar Nikolić Hall in Belgrade.
As per reports from ABA League portal, Charles Jenkins had the chance to cut the deficit to two, 82-78, under the last two minutes but he missed both free throws. That miss staged for Hatcher's heroics that made the game out of reach for the erstwhile unbeaten rival.
Luka Mitrović paced Crvena with a huge double-double of 14 points and 11 boards with three feeds and Milko Bjelica added 11 that all went in naught.
Both teams battled in a seesaw battle entering the second half and just when the momentum is starting to shift to Crvena, the 20-year old Marinković answers every opposition's rally back with his outside shooting. The 6-6 Serbian guard hit four shots in total from the three-point territory en route to his total of 13 points together with his three rebounds and an assist.
With Crvena down by four approaching the final minute, 83-78, Marinković set a high screen at the top of the key for Hatcher, who is shooting a measly 1-of-6 from the three point land, and nailed the three-pointer that increased the lead to seven.
Pionir almost blew its roof off as the crowd of 6,500 was really into it, celebrating the Michigan-born' combo-guard's shot that put the fight out of the now 20-1 Crvena Zvezda. They remain on top of the standings followed by their tormentors with 16-5.
The game was a tug-of-war affair between the top two teams in the tournament before Stefan Birčević jams one home off an assist from Hatcher and both teams settled for a 46-all deadlock to end the first half.
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