Zenit defeated CSKA in the Game of the Week at home – 81:77 (27:22, 18:13, 21:19, 15:23).
Game progress
The whole game was tough, but Zenit gradually began to take the initiative. Georgy Zhbanov helped Zenit to made an 8-point lead by the last minute of the quarter. At the start of the second quarter, Zenit tried to immediately extend the lead with three-point shots, but Alexey Shved was accurate. The hosts defense was better – after allowing CSKA to score only 13 points in the quarter, Zenit took a double-digit lead by the middle 10 minutes and maintained it until halftime (45:35).
The second half started well for CSKA, with a quick 7-0 run that brought the guests close (45:42). However, an emergency timeout helped the St. Petersburg team pull it together. Trent Frazier scored 7 points in 2 minutes and Dwayne Bacon stopped CSKA comeback. By the start of the final quarter, Zenit regained a double-digit lead to 12 points.
Key moment
Aleksa Avramovic and Anton Astapkovich tried to get CSKA back in the game. Tonye Jekiri led the guests in the final minutes of the game. With his 5 points and Melo Trimble, the Moscow team trailed by only 3 points with a minute left (78:75) .
CSKA nearly forced a turnovers, but Zenit kept the ball, and Bacon brought his team the win with a heavy contested shot. Jekiri’s free throws didn’t solve the problem with score differencial. The St. Petersburg team surpasses the direct rival and takes first place in the standings.
X-factor
Although CSKA ranks first in the League in three-point percentage (39.6%), Zenit was able to stop the Moscow team with active perimeter defense. The guests has 21 three-point attempts throughout the game, but made only 4 (19%).
Facts
Zenit set 2 team milestones. For the first time, Zenit has 35 wins in the regular season (considering there are still 4 games to go, Zenit has a good chance to increase that milestone). The 16-game winning streak is also a milestone for Xavier Pascual team.
The St. Petersburg wins the season series against CSKA – 3-1. The Moscow team had only one win in October.
Leaders
Zenit: Dwayne Bacon (19), Okaro White (17 + 6 rebounds), Trent Frazier (16), Alex Poythress (8 + 9 rebounds), Georgy Zhbanov (8 + 7 rebounds).
CSKA: Tonye Jekiri (18 + 7 rebounds), Melo Trimble (16), Aleksa Avramovic (7 + 5 rebounds + 5 assists), Anton Astapkovich (5 + 6 rebounds), Nikita Kurbanov (3 + 8 rebounds).
What’s next
Zenit: April 3 on the road against MBA-MAI.
CSKA: April 2 at home versus Samara.
