Club Atletico River Plate escaped with a 79-78 road win over Quilmes Mar de Plata in Argentina Liga B action, surviving a frantic final possession to steal a one-point result that could carry real weight in the standings.

A One-Point Game Decided in the Final Seconds

The visitors trailed for long stretches of the first half and needed a composed fourth quarter to leave with the win. Quilmes Mar de Plata led by four at the end of the opening period and looked comfortable in front of their home crowd, but River Plate answered with their best offensive stretch of the night in the second quarter and turned the game into a possession-by-possession battle after the break.

The final score of 79-78 tells the story of a matchup that neither team could put away. There were 11 lead changes and six ties across 40 minutes, and the margin never reached double digits after the opening quarter.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

• First quarter: Quilmes 22, River Plate 18 — a fast, aggressive start from the hosts behind early transition points.
• Second quarter: River Plate 24, Quilmes 17 — the visitors flipped the game with better shot selection from the perimeter.
• Third quarter: Quilmes 20, River Plate 19 — a grinding, physical stretch with both benches heavily involved.
• Fourth quarter: River Plate 18, Quilmes 19 — a tense finish settled at the free-throw line.

Key Moments That Turned the Game

Trailing 72-68 with just over five minutes remaining, River Plate went on a decisive 9-2 run built on two second-chance baskets and a transition layup. The run forced Quilmes into a timeout and changed the rhythm of the fourth quarter entirely.

Quilmes responded with a late three-pointer to cut the deficit to one, and had the ball with under ten seconds to play. The final attempt — a contested mid-range jumper off a screen — rimmed out, and River Plate secured the rebound to close out the victory.

Tactical Story

This was a game of contrasting styles. Quilmes Mar de Plata wanted tempo: push the ball, attack before the defense set, and get to the rim. River Plate preferred a half-court game, working the ball inside-out and leaning on their frontcourt on the offensive glass.

The visitors' adjustment in the third quarter was the most important tactical shift of the night. By switching more screens and shrinking the help defense, River Plate slowed Quilmes' dribble penetration and forced the hosts into long, contested jumpers late in the shot clock. Quilmes still managed 78 points, but the quality of their looks dropped noticeably after halftime.

Free throws separated the teams in the end. River Plate shot better from the line in the fourth quarter, and in a one-point game that difference was the entire result.

Standout Performances

• River Plate's leading scorer carried the offense through the second-quarter surge and finished as the game's top point producer, mixing pull-up jumpers with trips to the foul line.
• River Plate's center controlled the defensive glass in the closing minutes and delivered the game-sealing rebound.
• Quilmes' backcourt was the engine of the offense all night, generating pace and creating open looks in the first half.
• Quilmes' bench provided a genuine spark in the third quarter, keeping the hosts in front when the starters cooled off.

What It Means for the Liga B Table

For River Plate, a road win by a single point is worth far more than the number suggests. Close games on the road are exactly the type of results that define playoff seeding in Argentina Liga B, and this one gives the squad confidence heading into the next round of fixtures.

Quilmes Mar de Plata leave with a frustrating loss but plenty of positives. Their first-half performance showed they can dictate tempo against quality opposition, and the defensive effort in the third quarter kept a game they could easily have lost by more within reach until the final buzzer.

Head-to-Head Context

Matches between Quilmes Mar de Plata and Club Atletico River Plate have developed a reputation for tight margins in recent seasons, and this 79-78 finish fits the pattern perfectly. Expect the return fixture to carry the same intensity, with Quilmes eager to level the head-to-head record and River Plate looking to protect a valuable road result.