Zenit defeated MBA at home – 85:74 (17:12, 27:18, 20:25, 21:19).
Game progress
The hosts started the game with a run: Vince Hunter took off on a fastbreak and made a dunk to an 8-point lead for Zenit. The St. Petersburg team continued to be solid on defence, giving MBA no opportunities to simply make shots – 17:12.
In the second quarter, Zenit began to build up the lead: Vasily Karasev team was unable play clear and the hosts had 16 free-throw attempts. Trent Frazier scored two points for his team at the buzzer – 14-point lead for Zenit after the first half.
Key moment
The Moscow team felt the rhythm and started to cut the deficit at the start of the third quarter, but Zenit and Frazier didn’t want to lose control – 12 more points from the American guard and a comfortable 9-point hosts lead at the start of the final quarter.
MBA fought and tried to get back into the game, but the St. Petersburg team remained calm, keeping MBA at a 9-point difference. Evgeniy Minchenko scored 12 points in the final quarter, but Zenit clearly took the win.
Key factor
Trent Frazier was the best player of the game with 34 points, 9 of 12 from the game, 14 of 16 free-throws and 35 eff. points.
Fact
Zenit made 45 free-throws tonight – 25 came from Trent Frazier and Kyle Kuric.
Leaders
Zenit: Trent Frazier (34), Kyle Kuric (18), Tomas Heurtel (10 + 5 assists).
MBA: Evgeniy Minchenko (22 + 3 blocked shots)
What’s next
Zenit: October 22 on the road against Lokomotiv Kuban
MBA: October 23 at home versus Runa.
