Barça 81-78 Zenit: All square!

A dramatic victory for the Barça basketball team in the Palau as they took an 81-78 win over Zenit St.Petersburg in the Palau to level up at 1-1 their Euroleague play off. Jasikevicius' team needed overtime to take the win and a great performance from Davies (22 points, 33 valuation) with Adam Hanga scoring the deciding points. 

Zenit causing problems 

Zenit came into the contest knowing that a second away win would be crucial in the tie. In the first quarter the Russians succeeded and they ended the period with a 16-13 lead as they managed to nullify the Barça offense, Mirotic in particular. 

In the second quarter Barça came right back into the game with 12 unanswered points to take a 27-21 lead. A three pointer from Smits then helped the home side to a comfortable 38-29 advantage at half time. 

However, Zenit came out fighting in the second half and with three minutes left they trailed by just a point at 59-58. The visitors then got their noses in front and it took Hanga from the free throw line to take the game into overtime at 66-66. 

Hanga the hero 

The Russian got ahead again before a three pointer from Hanga levelled it up at 74-74. Then the Hungarian took matters into his own hands and a steal and two points from the free throw line saw Barça back in front. 

Hanga again proved decisive with Barça leading 81-78 in the final seconds as he robbed Pangos with Zenit threatening to level things up again. 

Now the tie moves to St.Petersburg for the next two matches on 28 and 30 April. 

MATCH STATS

Barça, 81

Zenit, 78

Barça: Calathes (3), Higgins (15), Abrines (-), Mirotic (8), Oriola (6) -starting five- Davies (22), Hanga (5), Kuric (9), Bolmaro (7), Smits (6), Claver (-).

Zenit: Pangos (23), KC Rivers (4), Hollins (12), Black (9), Will Thomas (17) -starting five- Zakharov (-), Baron (7), Zubkov (2), Poythress (4), Fridzon (-), Khvostov (-).