ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Zenit St Petersburg - Game

2017-18Regular SeasonRound 3

October 25, 2017 CET: 20:45

Local time: 20:45 ASTROBALLE

Roberson sparks big comeback as ASVEL downs Zenit

ASVEL Villeurbanne produced a sensational fourth quarter to overturn a ten-point deficit and overcome Zenit St Petersburg in an 88-85 thriller. Zenit led most of the way behind a monster performance from Drew Gordon, who had a huge double-double of 20 points and 18 rebounds. But 26 points from John Roberson, including six three-pointers, sparked a dramatic comeback for the French hosts, who also had 17 points from AJ Slaughter including a late jumper which effectively sealed the outcome. Amine Noua, Darryl Watkins and Justin Harper all scored 11 points for ASVEL, but the game’s leading scorer was Zenit’s Kyle Kuric with 23. Demonte Harper scored 16 for the visitors, and Nicolas Laprovittola combined 11 points with 7 assists. ASVEL improves to 2-1, while Zenit drops to 1-2.

After an even start, Zenit came on strong and a spectacular alley-oop between Laprovitola and Gordon concluded a 0-7 burst. Five consecutive points from Kuric then extended the lead but Slaughter beat the buzzer to make it 16-21 at the end of the first quarter. ASVEL continued its fightback in the second quarter, and Watkins scored the last two baskets before the break to make it 37-36. Roberson’s triple gave the home team a flying start to the second half, but Zenit came back to tie it with Laprovittola’s long-range strike. Kuric scored a pair of three-pointers in a 2-11 run as Zenit took charge, and a crazy buzzer beater from Artem Vikhrov made it 60-68 at the end of the third. Kuric from outside and Gordon from inside initially protected the advantage, but ASVEL kept fighting and 8 points in a hurry from Roberson made it 81-83 with two minutes left. Slaughter hit a triple to complete the comeback, Gordon responded for Zenit but Slaughter netted again with 22 seconds remaining and ASVEL won a thriller.

Next week ASVEL travels to face Tofas Bursa, and Zenit is on the road again to visit Ratiopharm Ulm.

John Roberson - Asvel Villeurbanne (photo Asvel - infinity Nine Media) - EC17

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Eurocupbasketball.com

Referees: LOTTERMOSER, ROBERT; ROMANO, DAVID; RACYS, SAULIUS

Attendance: 5560

By Quarter	1	2	3	4
ASVEL Villeurbanne	16	21	23	28
Zenit St Petersburg	21	15	32	17

End of Quarter	1	2	3	4
ASVEL Villeurbanne	16	37	60	88
Zenit St Petersburg	21	36	68	85

ASVEL Villeurbanne

							Rebounds						Blocks		Fouls
#	Player	Min	Pts	2FG	3FG	FT	O	D	T	As	St	To	Fv	Ag	Cm	Rv	PIR
1	MALEDON, THEO	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
5	KAHUDI, CHARLES	30:01	4	1/3	0/2	2/4	2	4	6		1	1	1		3	7	9
6	SLAUGHTER, AJ	26:56	17	4/8	3/6			2	2	3				1	1	2	15
7	KABA, ALPHA	8:50	2	1/3			1	3	4	1	1		1	1			6
9	LANG, NICOLAS	14:40		0/1	0/2					1					3	1	-4
12	NOUA, AMINE	20:59	11	5/6	0/1	1/2	1	5	6			2	2		1	1	14
17	BRIKI, SOFIANE	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
19	SOW, KHADIM	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
21	ROBERSON, JOHN	33:02	26	4/6	6/9			4	4	6	1	3			2	1	28
22	WATKINS, DARRYL	21:41	11	5/7	0/1	1/3	2	4	6	2	2	2	1		3	2	14
23	LIGHTY, DAVID	23:24	6	2/5	0/1	2/3	2		2	6	4			1	3	3	12
32	HARPER, JUSTIN	20:27	11	2/4	2/4	1/2		6	6	1	1		1		1	2	16
	Team							1	1			1
	Totals	200:00	88	24/43	11/26	7/14	8	29	37	20	10	9	6	3	17	19	110
				55.8%	42.3%	50%

Head coach: JACKSON, JD

Min: Minutes played; Pts: Points; 2FG M-A: 2-point Field Goals (Made-Attempted); 3FG M-A: 3-point Field Goals (Made-Attempted); FT M-A: Free Throws (Made-Attempted); Rebounds: O (Offensive), D (Defensive), T (Total); As: Assists; St: Steals; To: Turnovers; Bl: Blocks (Fv: In Favor / Ag: Against); Fouls: Cm (Commited), Rv (Received); PIR: Performance Index Rating

Zenit St Petersburg

							Rebounds						Blocks		Fouls
#	Player	Min	Pts	2FG	3FG	FT	O	D	T	As	St	To	Fv	Ag	Cm	Rv	PIR
1	REYNOLDS, SCOTTIE	6:13			0/1					1
7	KARASEV, SERGEY	26:20	5	1/8	1/4			1	1					1	1	1	-5
10	LAPROVITTOLA, NICOLAS	26:00	11	1/5	3/5		1	2	3	7	2	2			3	1	13
11	BARINOV, NIKITA	12:30	2	1/1	0/1			1	1			1			1
13	VIKHROV, ARTEM	7:49	3		1/1					2		1			2		2
18	VORONOV, EVGENY	22:02	2	1/1			2	2	4		2				4	1	5
22	HARPER, DEMONTE	26:51	16	3/7	3/7	1/1	2		2	2		5		1	3	2	5
24	KURIC, KYLE	28:48	23	4/6	4/8	3/5	1	5	6	1		3		1	1	3	20
31	VALIEV, EVGENY	15:39	3	1/4		1/3	2	1	3	1			1		3	2	2
32	GORDON, DREW	27:48	20	10/17		0/3	7	11	18	2	1		2	3	1	7	36
	Team						2	4	6								6
	Totals	200:00	85	22/49	12/27	5/12	17	27	44	16	5	12	3	6	19	17	84
				44.9%	44.4%	41.7%

Head coach: KARASEV, VASILY

Head Coaches

JACKSON, JD

ASVEL Villeurbanne

"It was a really difficult situation. It got really hot in the third quarter, Harper had some great oustide shots and Gordon pounded hard in the paint with offensive rebounds, They seemed to have control of the game but we decided to play small and very aggressive. We got the ball moving in offense and it worked out for us. I am proud because we reacted in the game."

KARASEV, VASILY

Zenit St Petersburg

"It was a tough game for us. We did a lot of turnovers and ASVEL could score some easy baskets. We missed some open shots and that is one of the reasons we lost. It's still a bit early to see who can be in the Top 16, all teams have more or less the same options at this point."

Players

NOUA, AMINE

ASVEL Villeurbanne

"We knew that St Petersburg was a big team. We had to be ready since the beginning of the game. We started rather well but in the third quarter, we collapsed with 32 points, that is too much. But we decided to react. The public was here with us, that was great. It was important to stay undefeated at home. We played as a team, we have to continue like that."

SLAUGHTER, AJ

ASVEL Villeurbanne

"We showed a lot of heart as a team, to stay in the game and keep fighting when we were down 10, late in the game. To stay in the first place, and protect home is very important. A win against a very good team like St Petersburg is great. The atmosphere was crazy, especially at the end of the game."

ROBERSON, JOHN

ASVEL Villeurbanne

"It was a tough game, a lot of credit to Zenit. They came here executing and playing a great game offensively. They played goo defense too, but we fought back and never gave up. We show good character, we stayed together and I’m proud of my guys."