Dynamo Moscow Region's recent struggles continued on Saturday when the EuroCup side lost 70-66 at Spartak St Petersburg in the Russian Superleague.

With Dmitri Shakulin having taken the reins following the resignation of coach Rutjanis Paulauskas, the new man in charge watched his troops fall behind early and then stage a fourth-quarter fightback which proved too little, too late.

Senegalese center Boniface N'Dong, the most valuable player at the last FIBA Africa Championship, led Spartak with 24 points.

The hosts stormed into a 23-14 lead by the end of the first quarter and were in command at 59-42 with just 10 minutes remaining.

The visitors then twice pulled to within one at 65-64 and 67-66 in the final minute, only for N'Dong to reply each time with baskets.

After the second N'Dong score had made it 69-66, Roderick Blakney attempted a potential game-tying three-ball but he was off target and Spartak rebounded the miss before closing out the victory at the free throw line.

Point guard Blakney finished with a team-high 14 points in defeat.

Dynamo Moscow Region host Ukrainian powerhouse Azovmash in EuroCup Round II action this week.

A side that took part in this season's EuroCup but failed to progress from Round I, Ural Great, won in the Superleague against CSK VVS-Samara Samara on Saturday.

Stanislav Makshantsev's three-point play early in the fourth quarter put Ural Great into a 69-68 lead and they stayed in front the rest of the way en route to a 94-89 victory.