Uralmash defeated Zenit in WINLINE Basket Cup group stage game on the road – 81:67 (20:17, 27:18, 16:22, 18:10).
Game progress
The win over its main rival Uralmash (2-2) would guarantee Zenit (3-1) a place in the Final Four. The opening quarter was equal, but the guests started the second quarter with long-range shots by Kirill Pisklov and Hayden Dalton. Uralmash effectively used roster depth, while the only consistent option for the St. Petersburg team was Andrey Vorontsevich. The guests led by 12 points at halftime.
The third quarter belonged to Zenit, with Trent Frazier stepping up his game to help his team cut the deficit to 6 points.
Key moment
Uralmash played without key point guards Anton Kardanakishvili and Timofei Gerasimov, but compensated for the losses with dedication, competent distribution of roles, and intensity in defense. In the decisive stretch of the game, the Yekaterinburg team continued to score consistently, limiting the opponent to just 10 points in 10 minutes. Pisklov and Dalton allowed the guests to start with a 9-3 run, giving the Yekaterinburg team a double-digit lead that gradually grew. Zenit was unable to make a comeback.
X-factor
59 points by Uralmash’s bench players (20 for Zenit). Anton Yudin used all the resources today.
Facts
Uralmash is tied with Zenit in the tournament standings (3-2), but trails in head-to-head points. In the next round, the Yekaterinburg team will face Igokea at home, while the St. Petersburg team will visit UNICS. To reach the Final Four, Anton Yudin team needs to win and hope that the rivals will fail.
Zenit got its first loss with Dejan Radonjic.
Leaders
Zenit: Trent Frazier (23), Andrey Vorontsevich (13)
Uralmash: Hayden Dalton (17 + 7 rebounds), Kirill Pisklov (15 + 5 assists), Octavius Ellis (14), Garrett Nevels (14)
Next game
Igokea (Bosnia and Herzegovina) vs UNICS (Russia) on February 17.