Spirou Basket rally to advance; Tsmoki-Minsk through despite OT defeat

MUNICH (Germany) - Tsmoki-Minsk and Spirou Basket both secured their places in the Second Round, despite contrasting results on Wednesday as the Regular Season concluded.

Spirou Basket rallied in the fourth quarter with an incredible 15-0 run over a six-minute span setting up a remarkable 78-64 success to deny Donar Groningen in a crucial Group E showdown.

Anthony Beane starred with a 28-point haul as Spirou overturned a 56-49 deficit at the end of the third period; outscoring their opponents 28-9 in the final 10 minutes to prevail in style.

The Belgians needed help elsewhere with counterparts Phoenix Brussels fighting for their own survival, though they suffered heartbreak after seeing an impressive fightback repelled as Amath M'Baye knocked down the game-winning three to finish with 27 points in a 93-90 victory for Pinar Karsiyaka.

Trailing by as many as 23 points, the visitors hit back with a late surge and took the lead in the final period as a dramatic finish ensued. Domien Loubry capped a 5-0 burst to fire his side back ahead at 87-86 with his seventh triple before another from Desonta Bradford later tied the game as overtime beckoned until M'Baye's winner.

Earlier, Tsmoki-Minsk became the 15th team to advance when BC Dnipro failed to win their final game as they were comfortably beaten 83-61 at home to Levski-Lukoil with 19 points apiece from Yordan Minchev and Kwan Cheatham.

They had already been eliminated prior to Gameday 6 as Tsmoki-Minsk held the head-to-head tie-breaker and the Belarusian side progressed even after falling to a 92-84 loss in overtime as BC Kyiv Basket ensured they topped Group F.

The home side had a double-digit lead in the first half and were also up 67-58 midway through the final period, but needed Rob Lowery’s drive to the basket to tie the game and force an extra period at 77-77. Kyiv took control in overtime and were led by a combined 41 points from Maksym Pustozvonov and Viacheslav Petrov in the win.

Ventspils moved to 6-0 in emphatic fashion after a crushing 122-72 win away at Sigal Prishtina with Klavs Cavars posting 26 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocks. Ryan Luther added a double-double of his own with 21 points and 11 boards with Kristaps Gluditis also hitting 20 points.

Also completing an unbeaten group campaign were Ironi Ness Ziona as they overcame Landstede Hammers Zwolle 94-88 away from home. SL Benfica finished with a 5-1 record as they battled past Inter Bratislava 95-91 for their own road success to top Group A, while U-BT Cluj Napoca saw off Enisey Krasnoyarsk 97-83 to win Group G.

Trae Golden top scored with 20 points to help secure top spot in Group D for Bahcesehir College as they defeated BC CSU Sibiu 80-71, while CSM CSU Oradea came unstuck at home to Fribourg Olympic in a surprise 87-67 defeat.

Kataja outlasted Egis Kormend for a 95-91 victory behind 25 points from Omar Calhoun, leaving Bakken Bears the chance to win Group H and the Danes edged out Legia Warszawa 77-74 for their fifth success to do so.

Elsewhere, Kapfenberg Bulls claimed their first win after defeating Keravnos 86-76 as Bogic Vujosevic netted 33 points. BC Balkan edged out Sodertalje 90-89, medi Bayreuth eased past Apoel Nicosia 83-68 on the road and ZZ Leiden beat PVSK-Veolia 105-100 in overtime.

FIBA