Locomotive Kuban secured a 74-56 victory over Southern Elephant in the Russian Cup on Wednesday, 16 September 2026. The hosts held their nerve in the closing stages to convert a comfortable lead into a 18-point win. By then, Southern Elephant's three-game winning run had ended.
The visitors arrived in first place with three wins from three games, but the result shifts the table's complexion. Locomotive Kuban's recent form offered a mixed picture — a 74-64 win over Dynamo MGU on Tuesday, followed by a string of results from the previous season showing both promise and vulnerability.
Southern Elephant's last outing saw them fall 93-75 to Titan Volgograd, a result that will have rattled their confidence before travelling to Krasnodar. Their recent record includes losses to Perm and Moscow, though they had previously beaten Dynamo MGU 84-68 and held Saratov 2 to a narrow defeat.
The margin of victory — 18 points — suggests Locomotive Kuban controlled the tempo after an uncertain opening period. They kept knocking on the door when Southern Elephant threatened to respond, and eventually the gap became insurmountable.
The result means Southern Elephant drop from an unblemished record, while Locomotive Kuban move closer to securing their position in the tournament. The hosts have nothing to lose in the remaining fixtures, and the draw brought them together early in what could be a decisive stage of the competition.
