Zenit defeated Avtodor in Saratov – 79:60 (17:12, 22:20, 21:17, 19:11).

Game progress
The game started with a 7-point run by Zenit. But after overcoming problems, the hosts didn’t let the opponent to increase the lead. The Saratov team looked no worse than the St. Petersburg team in a tight game with plenty of fouls, turnovers and missed shots. The guests maintained the lead, but advantage was only 5 points before the second quarter – 17:12.

At the start of the second quarter, Aleksandr Petenev and Egor Sychkov helped the Volga team took the lead for the first time in the game – 24:23. The St. Petersburg team responded with a three-pointer. Long-range shots by Trent Frazier, Andrey Vorontsevich and Sergey Karasev formed the basis for a double-digit lead – 39:25. But the hosts showed the character again and took the end of the quarter. Avtodor cut the deficit to 7 points by halftime – 32:39.

Key moment
Throughout most of the third quarter, the Saratov team didn’t let the opponent to increase the lead. But the quarter ended with a long-range shot by Frazier, after which the guests scored 8 more points in a row at the start of the final quarter. After that Zenit lead reached 19 points, which allowed to take confident win.

X-factor
Three-pointers were the main option for Zenit offense for most of this game. Zenit made 10 of 25 long-range shots (40%). Vorontsevich and Frazier scored 7 of 10 three-pointers combined.

Facts
Zenit signed Alexey Shved before the game. The St. Petersburg team newcomer had played in China for the last year and a half. Shved is the League all-time leader in points, assists and three-pointers made for his career.

Today’s success allowed the visitors to close in on CSKA. Zenit is now just one win away from the Army Men.

Leaders
Avtodor: Aleksandr Petenev (17), Caleb Agada (15 + 10 rebounds + 6 assists).
Zenit: Trent Frazier (18 + 5 assists), Andrey Vorontsevich (16 + 7 rebounds).

What’s next
Avtodor: January 22 on the road versus CSKA.
Zenit: January 24 on the road against Samara.