Big time players are expected to make big time plays

PEZINOK, Slovakia – Rutgers rising junior guard Corey Chandler (Newark, N.J.) scored 13 points, grabbed three rebounds and had three steals to help the East Coast All-Stars to a 100-95 victory over AB Cosmetics Pezinok on Saturday evening. RU rising sophomore forward Patrick Jackson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) contributed seven points and four rebound, as the All-Stars improved to 3-0 on their foreign tour of Prague, Bratislava and Vienna.

Jackson and Chandler reportedly showed up to play in the tour’s toughest contest. Jackson consistently rebounded and finished with fervor. Chandler wanted the ball in his hands down the stretch, coming up with crucial thefts and big baskets in the final few minutes of the game.

"Big time players are expected to make big time plays," said head coach Guy Rancourt. “And they certainly did not let us down tonight.”

In a charged atmosphere with more than 1,100 fans in attendance, Pezinok's Niko Milosevic, the starting point guard of the 2009 Top Division Champions, pulled up for what seemed to be a game changing shot. All-Star Chris Kehoe had other plans in mind, coming out of nowhere to block the attempt. He advanced the ball to Chandler for the exclamation point finish to seal the thrilling win.

A strong Pezinok team fought hard throughout the contest. The home squad trailed by a slim 26-23 margin at the conclusion of the opening quarter. The teams continued to battle back and forth in the second stanza as the visitors were only able to stretch their lead to 50-46 at intermission. Pezinok's veteran big man Alec Lukjanec came out in the second half with a purpose, knocking down threes and getting to the foul line. Pezinok held its first advantage of the contest, 74-73, as the third quarter came to a close. Solid guard play from the All-Stars in the final 10 minutes, however, ensured the victory.

The East Coast All Stars continue their tour on Sunday against AB Basket Levice, another Slovakian Top Division opponent.