Samara defeated MBA-MAI in Moscow – 86:79 (23:22, 17:20, 20:24, 19:20).
Game progress
From the first minutes Samara organized a pressing game, but MBA-MAI quickly adapted to the guests’ defensive style. Both teams played fast-paced basketball with plenty of contact, shooting mostly from the paint and couldn’t break away in the score – the lead changed 8 times in the first 1quarter. In the second quarter, Ilia Popov’s 9 points helped the Volga team made a 14:3 run that allowed Drazen Anzulovic team to build a double-digit lead.
The Moscow team adjusted the defense. With Andrey Zubkov and Danil Pevnev (24 points combined) were able to cut difference to 2 points by halftime – 40:42.
Key moment
In the second half, the Volga team started to make long-range shots. The guests made 4 three-pointers in a row and were able to take a 6-point lead before the final quarter – 66:60.
During the fourth quarter, MBA-MAI still managed to make a run and get within one shot. But Samara was better in the final minutes – first Gleb Goldyrev scored twice after offensive rebounds, then Anton Kardanakhishvili made a steal and got into a fastbreak, increasing his team’s lead to 7 points 2:21 minutes before the end – 80:73.
After that, the Moscow team had no energy left for a comeback – Zubkov and Pevnev fouled out and Samara didn’t let the win slip away.
X-factor
An important role in Samara win was rebounds – Drazen Anzulovic team got 9 more rebounds that the opponent (40 vs. 31) and scored 3 second-chance points in the clutch.
Facts
Andrey Zubkov scored 25 points, breaking the 20+ points for the first time in 6 years. The last time this happened in 2018 against Enisey, when Andrey played for Khimki.
Zubkov also moved into 5th place in VTB League history in rebounds, surpassing Mareks Mejeris. MBA-MAI leader has 948 rebounds .
For the first time in the season, the Volga team was able to make long-range shots (37.5%). Before the start of the game with MBA-MAI, Samara had the worst three-point shooting in the League (21.4%).
Leaders
MBA-MAI: Andrey Zubkov (25 + 5 rebounds), Danil Pevnev (17 + 5 rebounds).
Samara: Ilia Popov (16 + 6 rebounds), Anton Kardanakhishvili (16 + 5 assists), Ronnie Harrell (15), Mikhail Kulagin (12), Hayden Dalton (10 + 6 rebounds).
What’s next
MBA-MAI: October 6 at home versus PARMA
Samara: October 6 at home against Enisey.
