CSKA beat Pari Nizhny Novgorod in Moscow – 104:96 OT (28:26, 17:23, 21:20, 26:23, 12:4).

Game progress
CSKA would guarantee the 1st place at the end of the first stage in case of winning this game. The Volga team was managed to end Lokomotiv 7-game winning streak. The Army team created a double-digit lead midway through the first quarter – 24:13. But the guests responded with Andrey Vorontsevich and Kasey Shepherd three-pointers. Nizhny controlled rebounds (18 vs 8 in the first half), and bench players scored well (33 points vs. 10). Pari NN was able to take the lead by the halftime – 49:45.

Nizhny made 6 three-pointers in the third quarter, which allowed to hold off tthe hosts and keep a small lead before the fourth quarter – 69:66.

The game went to a tense ending. After Vorontsevich and Evgenii Baburin three-pointers, Pari NN got a 6-point lead. Despite several missed free throws, the Volga team was extremely close to win. Just 6 seconds before the buzzer, the huests had a 5-point lead after Baburin free throws. After that, Nizhny players allowed Trimble to score a lay up, and then made an inbound turnover. Ware had the ball, made an insane three-pointer and sent the game into overtime – 92:92!

Key moment
Nizhny Novgorod couldn’t recover after such a discouraging ending. CSKA controlled the overtime and Tonye Jekiri and Trimble made shots helped to build a comfortable lead fairly quickly. The incredible shot allowed the Army team to secure the first place in the regular season first stage.

X-factor
Pari Nizhny Novgorod repeated the League season-high in three-pointers made in a game – 17.
That had helped the Volga team to held CSKA, but in 2 of 3 cases, when the team tied or updated season-high, lost: first was Astana and now Nizhny. Only MBA managed to win with 17 three-pointers in Krasnoyarsk.

Fact
Pari NN for the last 5 days parted with 2 players. The team left Bryon Allen, who was the best scorer (14.6 points), as well as Dragan Apic. Glenn Causey had left earlier. Thus, only Kasey Shepherd and Aleksa Novakovic left in Nizhny.

The rivalry history score is now 36:3. All 3 times Nizhny Novgorod has beaten CSKA at home. The first road win was close, but never came.

Leaders
CSKA: Casper Ware (30 + 6 assists), Tonye Jekiri (17 + 11 rebounds), Melo Trimble (15), Amath M’Baye (13).
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: Kasey Shepherd (22 + 7 rebounds), Evgenii Baburin (14 + 5 assists), Andrey Vorontsevich (11 + 8 rebounds).

What’s next
CSKA (21-3): January 27 on the road against MBA
Pari Nizhny Novgorod (6-18): January 28 at home versus Zenit.