19 September, 2017
02 May, 2018
31 Stephen Domingo, 24 Evan Bruinsma | Photo: Erwin Otten
06/12/2017
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Drama-packed finish to the Regular Season crowned by Donar's overtime triumph

GRONINGEN (FIBA Europe Cup) - The last handful of teams jumped on board the Second Round train in the FIBA Europe Cup on Wednesday night, with the six final vacancies in the next round filled in dramatic fashion on the very last call.

Donar Groningen headlined the big winners, surviving an 84-82 overtime thriller against Telenet Giants Antwerp, with Drago Pasalic's game-winner helping the Dutch side secure second place in Group A.

Brandyn Curry led the winners with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, Evan Bruinsma had a double-double of 17 points and 10 boards, while Pasalic chipped in with 14 points.

Mornar Bar also celebrated a nail-biting escape from the Regular Season in Group C, defeating Kataja Basket 76-71 in the closing minutes of the game, after trailing for the majority of the contest.

Uros Lukovic had his fingerprints all over the victory for the Bar-based club, posting 11 points, 13 rebounds and a season-high 5 blocks, as the Montenegrin side not only clinched a ticket to the Second Round, but also grabbed pole position in the Group C standings.

A relatively convincing 87-82 win over Alba Fehervar allowed Tsmoki-Minsk to claim the top spot in Group F, but the Hungarian side from Szekesfehervar also progressed to the next round after Bnei Rav-Bariach Herzliya handed a third loss in a row to Proximus Spirou, who came up short, 87-83 in Israel.

Meanwhile, Demir Insaat and Belfius Mons-Hainaut emerged from Group G despite very different results. The Turkish side from Buyukcekmece knocked out Sigal Prishtina with an 84-66 win in Kosovo, giving a lucky break to Mons-Hainaut, who suffered an unexpected 78-75 defeat against the previously winless Khimik.

Among the other notable results on Wednesday, Nevezis pulled off a shockingly large 90-64 win over Bakken Bears to win the Group B crown, Nizhny Novgorod topped Szolnoki Olaj 78-70 for the number one spot in Group H, while U-BT Cluj-Napoca earned a first-place finish in Group E with an 83-70 triumph over Lukoil Academic.

FIBA