EUROCHALLENGE

Jerry Jefferson led Triumph Lyubertsy with a game-high 28 points

Triumph Lyubertsy knocked off Spartak Saint Petersburg and climbed into third place in the Russian PBL on Wednesday evening.

The EuroChallenge Final Four is just around the corner for Triumph, and judging from their latest win, Vasily Karasev's team will be formidable.

Triumph stormed into a 38-30 lead at half-time but saw Spartak battle back to trail by just two points entering the fourth quarter.

Spartak pulled then level at 62-62 with 6:01 to play when Vasily Zavoruev drilled a shot from the arc.

Jerry Jefferson, who has been rock solid this season for Triumph, responded with back-to-back baskets for a 66-62 advantage.

After Spartak's Slovenia international Miha Zupan connected from the arc to reduce the arrears to 66-65 with 4:35 to go, Jefferson and Aleksey Zozulin traded baskets.

Impressive youngster Evgeny Valiev and Artem Kuzyakin then nailed three-balls for Triumph to put them in front by seven and they pulled away.

Kuzyakin felt that Spartak tried to push Triumph around but were unsuccessful.

"They thought that we would break down under pressure, that we couldn't endure," the Triumph captain said.

"But we survived, and thanks to the fans for their support, it's been a fabulous atmosphere."

Spartak, who will play in the Eurocup Finals this weekend, dropped to fifth in the PBL.