Iraurgi SB edged CB Penas Huesca 83-80 in a tense, back-and-forth affair in the Copa del Rey de Baloncesto on Sunday, advancing on the back of a composed fourth-quarter finish. In a game that featured nine lead changes, the Basque hosts found the decisive plays in the final three minutes to close out a three-point victory.

Match Overview

Cup basketball rarely produces comfortable nights, and this was no exception. Iraurgi led for much of the first half, Huesca wrestled control back in the third, and the fourth quarter became a possession-by-possession battle. In the end, free-throw accuracy and one crucial defensive stop separated the sides.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

• First quarter: Iraurgi SB 21-19 CB Penas Huesca
• Second quarter: Iraurgi 20-22 Huesca (41-41 at half-time)
• Third quarter: Iraurgi 19-18 Huesca (60-59)
• Fourth quarter: Iraurgi 23-21 Huesca (83-80 final)

The half-time scoreline of 41-41 reflected a genuinely even contest, and the third quarter did little to separate them. It was the final period, where Iraurgi scored 23 points, that proved decisive.

Key Moments

With the score tied at 76-76 and just over three minutes remaining, Iraurgi manufactured the defining sequence of the game: a contested mid-range jumper, followed by a defensive rebound, followed by a transition three-pointer. That five-point swing proved to be the winning margin.

Huesca had a chance to equalise in the final seconds, but a well-defended three-point attempt rimmed out, and Iraurgi secured the rebound and the win. Earlier, a buzzer-beating layup at the end of the third quarter had given the hosts a one-point edge heading into the final period — a small but significant psychological lift.

Tactical Story

Iraurgi's approach was patient and physical. They attacked the paint early to draw fouls and put Huesca in the bonus, then used that advantage late in the game to score from the free-throw line. Defensively, they switched aggressively on screens and forced Huesca into late-clock shot attempts.

Huesca's best stretches came when they played through their interior and generated open corner threes from inside-out passing. Their zone defence also caused Iraurgi problems in the third quarter, briefly stalling the hosts' rhythm. But in the closing minutes, Iraurgi's half-court execution was cleaner, and that proved decisive in a cup tie where margins are razor thin.

Standout Performers

• Aitor Zubizarreta controlled the game from the point, delivering key baskets in the fourth quarter and managing the clock intelligently.
• Unai Barandiarán was dominant on the glass, particularly on the offensive end, generating second-chance points.
• Iker Sarasketa hit the crucial transition three that effectively sealed the contest.
• For CB Penas Huesca, Jorge Lafuente kept his side in front for long stretches with efficient perimeter shooting before fouling out late.

Cup Context and What It Means

Knockout basketball rewards composure, and Iraurgi SB demonstrated exactly that. A three-point win in the Copa del Rey de Baloncesto keeps their cup ambitions alive and gives the squad a valuable confidence boost for the league fixtures ahead.

For CB Penas Huesca, the defeat is a narrow one that will sting. They competed for forty minutes and were beaten by a handful of possessions — the kind of loss that often motivates a strong response in the next outing. In a single-elimination format, there is no margin for a slow start, and Huesca will take that lesson forward.

Head-to-Head Note

Recent meetings between these two clubs have been consistently competitive, and this three-point result fits the pattern. With the cup tie decided, Iraurgi hold the bragging rights — but Huesca will feel the gap between the sides was far smaller than the final scoreline suggests.