In an away game of the Fonbet Russian Championship – Premier League, reigning champions UMMC Yekaterinburg withstood the pressure from MBA-MGUSiT to claim their 20th win of the season.

Quarter scores: 17–26, 16–18, 17–11, 17–20

The first quarter belonged to the Foxes, who quickly set the tone. Just two minutes in, Alex Bentley opened the scoring with a three-pointer, and by the fifth minute, the scoreboard read 13–5 for the visitors. The opening period ended with UMMC comfortably ahead, 26–17.   

In the second quarter, the hosts attempted to find their rhythm. Alexander Diratsuyan’s team tightened up defensively and, on several occasions, cut the deficit to five points. However, UMMC responded each time, and went into the halftime break leading 44–33.

The third quarter was tense for the visitors. Moscow staged a strong 9–0 run, narrowing the gap to just two points within three minutes and giving the crowd hope for a comeback. Dmitrii Donskov’s timeout came at the right moment — the Foxes calmed the game, regained control, and started scoring again from both the perimeter and inside the paint. Nevertheless, the hosts remained close, and heading into the final quarter, UMMC held a slim 55–50 lead.

The final quarter was slow-paced and low-scoring, but it was here that the leaders made the difference. Midway through the period, the visitors extended their lead to 13 points, seemingly putting the game out of reach. However, MBA-MGUSiT did not give up — with just 40 seconds remaining, they reduced the gap to four points, and the tension returned. Experience, composure, and championship character ultimately prevailed: UMMC closed out the game with a 75–67 victory.

UMMC: Maiga (10 points), Shilova, Bentley, and Nogic (9 points each)

MBA-MGUSiT: Krymova (18 points), Korshakova (15 points), Frolkina (12 points)

The Foxes will host Nadezhda Orenburg on February 10 at the DIVS Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 19:00.