Real Madrid wrapped up a brilliant win, reinforcing their status as leaders in the Endesa League with a dominant 106-92 victory over UCAM Murcia. The result underscores Madrid as the team to beat this season, undefeated across all competitions they have contested so far.
The Whites added another win on Sunday, adding to their earlier triumphs against Barça and Girona. In the matchup against a team perched high in the standings, Eddy Tavares dominated under the boards while Facu Campazzo showed his typical relentless drive in the lane. They finished as the top scorers for their sides, contributing 18 and 14 points respectively.
After a first half that left some doubt about the final outcome, Real Madrid steadied themselves with a newfound confidence, helped by the home atmosphere described by coach Chus Mateo as a fresh burst of energy in a magic sequence. Two Euroleague games lie on the horizon for the team next week.
UCAM Murcia fought hard but could not avoid a second straight league setback. Moussa Diagne had an excellent opening quarter, yet his pace slowed and he was sidelined in the third quarter after accumulating two technical fouls.
Eddy Tavares, who barely scored in the first period, found his rhythm in the next with six points and was involved in one of the more controversial moments at halftime under the basket. Madrid’s center converted a goal after a collaboration with Diagne; meanwhile the Murcia forward hit the floor dramatically and claimed a foul in the attack.
Referees reviewed the sequence and settled on a Senegalese technical foul. An angry Sito Alonso left the bench for the locker room with just over a tenth of a second remaining. Campazzo added the free throw to push the lead, and a heated moment between Alonso and Madrid’s Sergio Llull occurred as players exited the floor.
Earlier, UCAM Murcia had looked capable of taking a lead, even enjoying moments when they found success against a team they had not beaten in many visits.
Madrid entered the game wary of Murcia’s aggressive defense, but in the opening period the home team moved as a cohesive attacking unit, guided by Ludde Hakanson and Troy Caupain, with Diagne contributing eight points on five attempts.
UCAM held an eight-point edge at 14-22 thanks to Dylan Ennis, who helped sustain Diagne’s scoring run. The first quarter closed at 15-22 after Madrid found their footing late in the frame.
Real Madrid began to find its rhythm around the two-minute mark of the second quarter, following the season’s early injury setback. A Caseur triple leveled the score at 25-25, sparking an 8-0 run that shifted momentum toward Madrid.
For a long stretch the teams battled for a clear lead, but Tavares’ scoring pushed Madrid forward just before halftime, diminishing a tense atmosphere surrounding the controversial pregame events. Campazzo then showcased his steady hand, knocking down six straight points to keep UCAM Murcia at bay as Madrid pulled ahead at 42-37.
Despite the tension, Campazzo remained a decisive factor, repeatedly breaking through Murcia’s defense and driving into the paint with confident precision. UCAM Murcia found it difficult to stall the Argentinian and could not match his relentless push toward the basket.
Birgander’s lingering doubts about Tavares did little to slow Madrid, who emphasized interior play and, despite hitting only two of thirteen attempts from three, built a 19-9 run to surge ahead. The third-quarter closed with Madrid in control at 81-62 after a strong finish led by Caseur on a buzzer-beating three.
French forward Guerschon Yabusele, named the week’s Euroleague MVP for the second day of competition earlier this week with 22 points, rejoined the scoring column with seven points, resting for a stretch but contributing when needed.
With a twenty-point cushion at the start of the final period, UCAM Murcia mounted a late push through Birgander’s drives and Coupain’s inside game, but Campazzo’s sustained excellence and Hezonja’s contributions kept Real Madrid in command and allowed them to celebrate an early victory in the night’s schedule.
Sergio Rodríguez entered the top ten in Real Madrid’s history for appearances, edging closer to José Miguel Antúnez’s 296 points record as the season progressed.
Data sheet:
106 – Real Madrid (15+27+39+25): Campazzo (14), Llull (10), Musa (10), Yabusele (11), Tavares (18) -in the top five-, Caseur (13), Hezonja (13), Sergio Rodríguez (4), Poirier (3), Deck (7), Ndiaye (-), Hugo González (3)
92 – UCAM Murcia (22+15+25+30): Hakanson (10), Ennis (15), Kurucs (7), Sleva (8) and Birgander (16) -in the top five-, Diagne (10), Caupain (7), Sant-Roos (5), Radovic (6) , Sakho (-), Jelínek (8), Falk (-).
Referees: Jordi Aliaga, Esperanza Mendoza and Alberto Baena. They personally removed Sleva from UCAM Murcia. Diagne from the same team was disqualified due to two technical fouls.
Events: The Endesa League match of the fifth day was played at the WiZink Center in Madrid.