AP Sports Preview: Brest at RSCOP Music

MINSK, Belarus (Interstat) — RSCOP Music hosts Brest on Wednesday, May 20, in a Belarusian BPL matchup that pits the league’s second-best team against the cellar-dweller.

RSCOP Music (22-8) enters on a two-game winning streak after a 76-73 victory over Prinemanye Grodno on Sunday. Nikita Leoshin, the team’s leading scorer, fueled that win with 33 points, three rebounds and two assists in 40 minutes. The 6-foot-7 forward has been a consistent offensive force, averaging 23.4 points over his last five games, including a 25-point outing against Borisfen Mogilev on April 28 and 18 points in a 93-64 loss at Prinemanye on May 14. Artem Zhebrovsky added 15 points and 13 rebounds in Sunday’s win, while center Marvey Yagutko contributed eight points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Brest (7-29) has lost 11 of its last 12 games but snapped a four-game skid with a 78-77 home win over RSUOR on May 13. Point guard Egor Komlach was instrumental, posting 28 points, two rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes. The 6-foot-1 playmaker has displayed his scoring ability this season, including a 26-point, 10-rebound double-double against Gocor-Sozh Gomel on April 23 and a 10-point, eight-assist effort in a 92-64 win at RSUOR on May 10. However, Komlach struggled against top opponents, scoring just five points in a 104-44 loss to Grodno 93 on April 29.

RSCOP Music’s depth and defensive pressure could overwhelm Brest, which has allowed 100 or more points five times this season. The home team defeated Prinemanye Grodno 85-76 in overtime on May 10 and split a two-game series with Borisfen Mogilev in late April. Guard Artem Zhebrovsky’s double-double threat and Yagutko’s interior presence complement Leoshin’s perimeter scoring.

Brest’s offense relies heavily on Komlach and Vladislav Lagodich, who scored 23 points in the win over RSUOR. The visitors are 2-14 on the road this season, with both wins coming against RSUOR. Wednesday’s game tips off at 7 p.m. local time at RSCOP Music Arena.