FRANCA (Brazil) - Rafael Hettsheimeir scored nine of his game-high 19 points in the decisive third quarter to propel Sesi Franca to a 75-59 home triumph over San Lorenzo on Tuesday night in the opening game of their Basketball Champions League Americas Quarter-Final series.

Squaring off against a San Lorenzo club that won the last two Liga de las Américas, Franca had to dig deep late in the first half before pulling away for the win in the best-of-three series.

Argentinian outfit San Lorenzo reeled off seven unanswered points to turn a 26-22 deficit into a 29-26 advantage with 3:56 to go in the second quarter.

Franca responded with a three-point play by Brazil international Lucas Dias, who made a layup after catching a pass from Luciano Parodi and got fouled. His free-throw then knotted the contest.

Dias had gotten the crowd on its feet earlier in the game with an alley-oop dunk.

Following two misses at the charity stripe by San Lorenzo's Esteban Batista, David Jackson drilled a pair of pull-up jumpers to put the hosts in front to stay.

After half-time, Hettsheimeir got to work. With Franca on top 40-35 following a pair of Lucas Dias free-throws, Hettsheimeir made a layup and then a three-pointer.

He later added a hook shot and a turnaround jumper, stretching the advantage to 58-44 with 2:13 remaining in the third quarter.

San Lorenzo pulled to within 58-48 by the end of the frame after a pair of Batista free-throws and then two more from Luciano González, yet got no closer the rest of the way.

Sesi Franca veteran David Jackson had 12 points on Tuesday night

As well as Hettsheimeir, Lucas Dias was terrific. The power forward had 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists and also excelled on defense. Jackson ended up with 12 points.

In defeat, Batista had 12 points and José Vildoza 10 had double scoring digits.

Franca will take aim at a sweep on Saturday at the Roberto Pando stadium in Buenos Aires.