CHALON-SUR-SAONE (FIBA Europe Cup) - Elan Chalon will fancy their chances of progressing past the FIBA Europe Cup Round of 16 stage, as they get ready to welcome Kormend with a 21-point advantage after a convincing road victory in Hungary.

Having registered a 99-78 victory in an arena that many other clubs left defeated this season, only a complete collapse at Le Colisee would prevent Jean-Denys Choulet's side from moving on in the Play-Offs.

Barring an unlikely result, the French side would face the winner of the tie between Cibona and Stelmet Zielona Gora. However, Kormend, who have demonstrated character and determination throughout their international campaign, will not be ready to lay down their arms just yet.  

For that to be a viable option, the Hungarian side will need to do a much better job on Elan Chalon's star duo of John Roberson and Cameron Clark, who combined for 53 points in the first meeting between the teams.

Clark scored 27 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and dished out 3 assists, while Roberson finished the game with 26 points, 3 boards and 7 assists.

Parrish Petty was the lone bright spot for Kormend in the first leg, scoring 24 points, collecting 4 rebounds and handing out 6 dimes. The team's scoring leader Terry Allen had a tough quiet night in a direct match-up against Clark and chipped in with a season-low 10 points.

During the break between the first and second legs, the Hungarian club decided to let Jordan Loveridge, who was scoreless in 18 minutes of action against Elan Chalon two weeks ago, walk. Although they are in search for a front-line replacement, the help isn't likely to come in time for the FIBA Europe Cup clash in Chalon-sur-Saone.

Both teams will be looking to bounce back after underperforming in the final stages of their respective national cups, with Elan Chalon falling to ASVEL in the LNB Leaders Cup Quarter-Finals in France and Kormend finish fourth in the Hungarian Cup after losses to Alba Fehervar and Szedeak.

FIBA