KORMEND (FIBA Europe Cup) - Egis Kormend and Keravnos became the first teams to clinch tickets to the FIBA Europe Cup Second Round after another overtime thriller in Group D saw the Hungarian side clip Balkan Botevgrad 90-86 for the win on Wednesday.

The Gasper Potocnik-coached side put together a magical escape at the end of the fourth quarter to force overtime with Andre Hollins and Csaba Ferencz knocking down contested three-pointers, before running away with the game in the extra period.

"We had a big disadvantage at the end of the fourth quarter, but we managed to win this game in the end. This shows that we are strong mentally," said the team's captain Ferencz who tied the game with the sound of the buzzer at the end of regular time.

It was the second overtime win in a row for Kormend, who held off Cypriot rivals Keravnos in similar fashion last week.

"I will repeat myself here – it's a big thing that we are 4-0 in the group and can already start preparing for the next round," opined the player, looking ahead.

Ferencz led the winners in scoring with 19 points, Marquis Wright double-doubled with 16 points and 11 assists, while Andre Hollins finished the night with 16 points and 9 rebounds.

Ventislav Petkov set his personal season-high with 25 points in a losing effort for Balkan, as DeVaughn Washington added 18 points and 8 rebounds.

The Kormend victory reserved a place in the Second Round not only for themselves, but also the currently second-placed Group D team Keravnos, therefore eliminating BC Balkan and Basic-Fit Brussels.

The three other undefeated teams in the competition saw their streaks come to an end, with U-BT Cluj-Napoca losing 92-82 to Istanbul BBSK on the road in Turkey; Proximus Spirou falling to Tsmoki-Minsk 82-78 at home in Charleroi; and Kataja Basket beaten by the last-placed Kapfenberg Bulls 87-83 on their home floor in Finland.

Elsewhere, Telenet Giants Antwerp outlasted Bosna 84-77 in Group A, while DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell scored 31 points for Group B leaders Bakken Bears in a 97-85 win against Avtodor Saratov, with BC Nevezis defeating SL Benfica 94-68 in Lithuania.

FC Porto inscribed their second consecutive win, topping Mornar Bar 68-55 in Group C, as did Szolnoki Olaj in Group H, rolling past Karposh Sokoli 91-73 on the road in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Alba Fehervar also continued their hot streak with a 93-68 victory against Bnei Rav-Bariach Herzliya in Group F, Demir Insaat barely avoided an upset in Group G holding off Khimik 80-76 in Istanbul, while Lukoil Academic shook off Dinamo Tbilisi 72-63 in the final minutes in a Group E clash in Georgia.

FIBA