In the recent university derby of the Optibet Eesti-Läti basketball league, Tartu University Maks & Moorits faced off against TalTech/Alexela, with the match marking the end of a lengthy regular season consisting of 26 rounds. TalTech commenced the game with strong momentum, leading from the first minute and significantly increasing their advantage during the third quarter, where they notably outscored Tartu 25 to 8. Despite TalTech's comfortable lead, Tartu managed to mount a late comeback, reducing the deficit to only two points with less than a minute left on the clock.

As the game intensified in the closing moments, Tartu had an opportunity to tie the game on their final possession. However, a crucial three-point attempt by Karl-Johan Lips did not find its mark, allowing TalTech to cling to victory by a narrow margin of 78-76. Martin Paasoja led Tartu’s offense with an impressive performance, scoring 25 points alongside six assists. For TalTech, Tormi Niits and Siim-Markus Post were instrumental in securing the win, each contributing 14 points.

This match serves as a significant indicator for both teams as they advance towards the upcoming quarter-finals of the league. The competitive spirit exemplified in this derby reflects the tension and rivalry between the two university teams, making their subsequent games in the playoffs even more anticipated by fans and analysts alike. Moreover, Tartu's struggles in the third quarter, traditionally a challenging period for them, may be a concern moving forward into the knockout stages of the tournament.