Gimnasia y Esgrima de Santa Fe secured a hard-fought 79–72 victory over Urquiza in Argentina's Liga B on May 11, 2026, in front of a spirited home crowd. The win reinforced the team's strong form early in the season and highlighted the depth of their roster in a competitive second‑tier national league.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, both sides showed aggressive defensive schemes, but it was Gimnasia y Esgrima who seized control in the second quarter. A 12‑2 run just before halftime gave the home side a double‑digit lead that they managed to hold despite a determined Urquiza comeback in the final period.

The visitors cut the margin to three points with under four minutes remaining, but timely three‑point shooting and clutch free‑throw execution sealed the 79–72 result for Gimnasia.

Key Moments

• First‑quarter push: Gimnasia opened with a 24‑18 advantage, powered by forward Luciano Roldán’s 10 points in the frame.
• Second‑quarter surge: A 15‑4 burst midway through the second period extended the lead to 17 points. Guard Matías Peralta knocked down back‑to‑back triples during the run.
• Urquiza’s rally: After trailing 61‑48 entering the fourth quarter, Urquiza mounted an 11‑2 spurt, led by point guard Santiago López, to make it 63‑59 with 5:30 to play.
• Clutch closing: Gimnasia’s veteran center, Emiliano Fernández, scored six points in the final two minutes, including a critical and‑one play, to put the game away.

Standout Players

• Matías Peralta (Gimnasia y Esgrima): The shooting guard finished with a game‑high 24 points, shooting 6‑of‑11 from three‑point range. His energy on both ends was pivotal.
• Emiliano Fernández (Gimnasia y Esgrima): The veteran center recorded a double‑double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, controlling the paint and protecting the rim.
• Santiago López (Urquiza): The visiting point guard poured in 20 points and dished out 7 assists, leading his team’s comeback effort.

Liga B Standings Impact

With this win, Gimnasia y Esgrima de Santa Fe improved to a 3‑1 record in the Liga B season, moving into the top half of the Northern Conference table. Urquiza dropped to 2‑2, but remain in contention in a tightly packed middle of the standings. Home‑court advantage has been a key theme early in the season, and Gimnasia have now won their first two games at the Estadio Enrique Pivotto.

Tactical Story

Gimnasia’s coaching staff successfully exploited Urquiza’s 2‑3 zone defense by using high pick‑and‑roll actions that freed Peralta for outside shots. Defensively, they switched aggressively to limit Urquiza’s drives, holding the visitors to 38% shooting from the field in the first half. Urquiza adjusted in the second half by going small and pushing the tempo, which created open looks but also led to turnovers that Gimnasia converted into fast‑break points (14 in total).

The victory underscores Gimnasia y Esgrima de Santa Fe’s growing identity as a resilient, well‑coached team capable of winning close games – a valuable trait as the Liga B season progresses toward the postseason.