Zenit defeated Samara on the road – 103:54 (28:19, 21:16, 27:8, 27:11).
Game progress
The Volga team opened the score, but the guests followed with a 10-point run. Ilia Popov and Mikhail Kulagin tried to equalise the game. But Zenit had their hero. Xavier Moon scored 12 points in the first quarter to give his team a comfortable lead – 28:19.
In the second quarter, Zenit lead reached 21 points – 44:23. But the hosts took the initiative at the end of the quarter. Long-range shots by Ivan Pynko, Viktor Kashin and Mikhail Kulagin allowed Samara to cut the deficit – 35:49.
Key moment
The third quarter began with Moon made shots. The St. Petersburg team confidence in offense and defense was reflected on the scoreboard. Before the final quarter, Zenit had a 33-point lead, which guaranteed the win – 76:43.
X-factor
The guests were focused on two-point shots in this game. The team made 34 of 46 (73.9%) and set a new VTB League season-high.
Facts
Anton Kardanakhishvili had to leave the court in the first quarter. Samara leader landed badly after his accurate shot. After that he never came on the court again. Zenit guard Denis Zakharov was also injured in a similar situation.
For the fourth time this season, Zenit players scored 100 or more points. The team did it for the first time since October 3.
Aleksandr Scherbenev scored season-high 17 points in VTB League.
Zenit and UNICS are the best visiting teams of the season. Both have 10 wins in 12 road games.
Samara lost 6th game in a row. This is the longest active losing streak after Astana.
Leaders
Samara: Mikhail Kulagin (20)
Zenit: Xavier Moon (18 + 7 rebounds + 6 assists), Aleksandr Scherbenev (17), Vince Hunter (16), Sergey Karasev (14), Alex Poythress (10), Andrey Vorontsevich (5 + 10 rebounds).
What’s next
Samara: January 11 at home versus MBA-MAI
Zenit: January 11 at home against Lokomotiv-Kuban.
