Zenit defeated Enisey on the road – 74:71 (16:17, 20:15, 22:16, 16:23).
Game progress
Zenit had lost their previous game in Krasnoyarsk, and this rematch also got off to a rough start. In a low-scoring, slow-paced game, Enisey managed to take the initiative and even pull ahead in the second quarter. The hosts also had offensive rebounding advantage. Dejan Radonjic’s timeout with 3 minutes left in the first half changed the game. Zenit made a 9-0 run and headed into halftime with a 4-point lead.
Enisey managed to put up a fight after the break, but the guests tight defense continued to limit offensive opportunities. Through 3 quarters, not a single Krasnoyarsk team player had scored 10 points. The St. Petersburg team stepped up the pressure in the final minutes of the quarter and entered the closing stages of the game with a double-digit lead.
Key moment
Zenit’s offense stumbled in the final quarter, allowing the hosts to fight for the win. Enisey cut the deficit to one possession in the final minutes, but Radonjic called a timeout just in time to stop the run, after which the guests held on to the lead until the end.
X-Factor
Zenit’s defense secured the win in a low-scoring game with poor offensive efficiency. Enisey failed to reach its season scoring average (77.5) and only managed to score more than 20 points in the final quarter.
Facts
Ismael Bako signed with Zenit in late January and played his first game, appearing for 3.5 minutes.
Zenit took revenge for its November loss in Krasnoyarsk and won the season series 3-1.
Zenit’s winning streak has reached 9 games.
Leaders
Enisey: Matt Coleman (19 points + 6 rebounds), Egor Ryzhov (12 points + 8 rebounds), Danilo Tasic (10 points + 5 rebounds), Dmitry Sonko (10)
Zenit: Luka Samanic (17), Xavier Moon (16), Georgiy Zhbanov (13)
What’s next
Enisey: March 17 on the road versus Samara
Zenit: March 18 on the road against MBA-MAI.
