Avtodor defeated Samara on the road – 102:99 OT (30:17, 24:22, 24:31, 11:19, 13:10).
Game progress
The start of the game was equal. The teams exchanged shot after shot. However, the Saratov team had better three-point shooting (4 of 6), which allowed to pull away and win the starting quarter – 30:17. In the second quarter, Milenko Bogicevic team consolidated the lead.
From the very start of the second half, the hosts showed desire to get back into the game. During the quarter, Samara made several runs and cut the deficit to 3 points. In the final quarter, Vladislav Konovalov team stepped up the defense and allowed the guests to score only 2 points in 4 minutes, going on a 14-2 run.
With a 1.5 minute left, Samara led – 89:85, but Pavel Zemskii and Vitalius Pranauskis helped the Saratov team to send the game into overtime.
Key moment
In the ovetrime, the teams slowed down the pace. At key moments, Avtodor managed to defend and scored 6 points in a row and achieved a 5-point lead with 40 seconds to go. Samara tried to made comeback, but Avtodor confident defense did not allow to do it.
X-factor
Avtodor young players had the best games of their careers. Vitalius Pranauskis scored 22 points and newcomer Pavel Zemskii got 17.
Facts
Rivalry history score: 10-4, Avtodor leads. The Saratov team has won the last 6 games.
Nikita Mikhailovskii remains the League’s leading scorer (19.8 points), while Malik Newman is in the top three (18.1).
Avtodor ended its 13-game losing streak.
Leaders
Samara: Nikita Mikhailovskii (31 + 9 rebounds + 6 assists), Evgeny Minchenko (14 + 6 rebounds), Gleb Sheiko (12 + 5 rebounds), Artem Chevarenkov (11), Danila Pohodiaev (11)
Avtodor: Vitalius Pranauskis (22), Malik Newman (22), Pavel Zemskii (19 + 7 rebounds), Alen Hadzibegovic (19 + 11 rebounds), Igor Volkhin (11)
What’s next
Samara: December 26 on the road versus Pari NN
Avtodor: December 24 at home against Uralmash.
