Akoon-Purcell saves the day for Bakken Bears

AARHUS (FIBA Europe Cup) - DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell scooped in a reverse lay-up with fractions of a second to spare in overtime to give Bakken Bears a 93-92 win over the visiting Mornar Bar in a nail-biting Second Round clash in Denmark on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old guard had his fingerprints all over the win with 25 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists, but it was the clutch play down the stretch that earned him the right to pound his chest.

The Danish champions moved to a 2-0 mark in Group K, with the previously undefeated Montenegrin side suffering their first defeat since the end of the Regular Season.

Michel Diouf also played a big role in the win with a double-double of 20 points and 15 rebounds, while Jeffrey Crockett chipped in with 15 points and 8 boards for the Bears.

Point guard Derek Needham collected all of his team-high 21 points from beyond the three-point arc, with Brandis Raley-Ross adding 20 points and 5 rebounds in a losing effort.

Meanwhile, Szolnoki Olaj thrashed Tsmoki-Minsk in the other Group K game of the week, inscribing a 79-45 victory behind a 16-point and 6-assist game from captain David Vojvoda.

Elsewhere in Hungary, Egis Kormend turned around a 9-point deficit in the fourth quarter against Nevezis to triumph 85-79 in Group J. After Alba Fehervar's surprise win over Demir Insaat on Tuesday, all four teams in the standings now share identical 1-1 records.

ESSM Le Portel stayed on the straight and narrow in Group I, improving to a 2-0 record with a close-fought 82-77 win in Finland against Kataja Basket, as Dinma Odiakosa led the way with 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field.

After a devastating defeat in France at the start of the Second Round, Istanbul BBSK bounced back by claiming an 82-79 win over Nizhny Novgorod thanks to a big performance from Ivan Buva.

The Croatian big man posted 26 points and 13 rebounds, while Stefan Bircevic was his main partner in crime with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.

In Group L, Thomas Koenis knocked down 7 three-pointers and did not miss from the field to lead Donar Groningen to an unexpectedly straight-forward 109-69 win over Keravnos.

The player finished the game with 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists with Brandyn Curry adding a helping hand of 22 points and 6 assists, while Anthony King led the visitors with a team-high 15 points.

FIBA