MUNICH (FIBA Europe Cup) - FIBA Europe Cup action will continue with six more exciting match-ups on Wednesday, featuring two games between undefeated teams in the Second Round.

After defeating U-BT Cluj-Napoca in Romania, Donar Groningen will welcome Cypriot champions Keravnos, who started their Group L campaign with a win over Belfius Mons-Hainaut.

Meanwhile, Mornar Bar and Bakken Bears will try to keep their momentum going in Group K after starting the second phase of the competition so well before the two-week break.

Group I: Istanbul BBSK (0-1) v Nizhny Novgorod (1-0)

After a humiliating 37-point loss to ESSM Le Portel just before the winter break, Istanbul BBSK will be trying to rehabilitate their public image by hosting Nizhny Novgorod at home in Turkey. Unlike their opponents, the Zoran Lukic-coached Russian side began the Second Round with a win, defeating Kataja Basket 84-75. It may be too early to start thinking about the panic button for Istanbul BBSK, but falling two wins behind so early would complicate their situation in Group I.

Time: Wednesday, 15:00 CET
Key Matchup: Ryan Toolson v Ivan Strebkov
Domestic Form: Istanbul BBSK were defeated by Pinar Karsiyaka 84-76 in the Turkish Basketball Superleague on Saturday and fell behind by one win in the race for the Play-Offs. With a 7-7 mark, they are currently in 9th place. Meanwhile, Nizhny Novgorod registered an 85-73 road win against Astana to move up to 8th position in the VTB League with a 3-6 record.
Live Stream: YouTube.com/FIBA

Group I: Kataja Basket (0-1) v ESSM Le Portel (1-0)

ESSM Le Portel will put the longest active winning streak in the FIBA Europe Cup to the test up north in Finland, having won six games in a row, following an opening-day loss to Donar Groningen. The Trae Golden-led French side have been on an upward trend, while the reverse is true for Kataja Basket, who haven't been able to maintain their momentum after starting the season red-hot with four wins in a row.

Time: Wednesday, 17:30 CET
Key Matchup: Ilari Seppala v Trae Golden
Domestic Form: Kataja Basket split their two post-New Year games in the Finnish Korisliiga, losing 88-86 to BC Nokia on Wednesday before bouncing back with an 86-73 win against Korikobrat. They are in 6th place in the domestic championship with an 11-8 mark. ESSM Le Portel have escaped the relegation zone in France, triumphing 77-69 over Elan Bearnais to improve to 6-9 in the LNB Pro A, which puts them in 16th place.
Live Stream: YouTube.com/FIBA

Group J: Egis Kormend (0-1) v BC Nevezis (1-0)

Having edged Hungarian side Alba Fehervar in overtime in the last game FIBA Europe Cup gameday before the winter break, Nevezis are now going to be testing another Hungarian club. Always an extremely difficult club to play on their own floor, thanks to their unbelievable fan support, Egis Kormend will likely be a tougher challenge for the Lithuanians. The fact that the Kormend side are one step above Alba Fehervar in the Hungarian championship also suggests that Nevezis will be in for a tougher challenge, particularly in the hostile away atmosphere.

Time: Wednesday, 18:00 CET
Key Matchup: Eric Fanning v Valerii Likhodei
Domestic Form: After losing to Sopron 85-60 in a mid-week clash, Egis Kormend got back on track with a 77-61 win over Jaszberenyi on Saturday to improve to 10-4 in the Hungarian championship. There was little Nevezis could do against Lithuanian champions Zalgiris over the weekend, picking up a 94-68 defeat. Ramunas Cvirka and his team have lost 10 of their last 11 games in the domestic championship and have a league-worst 4-14 mark.
Live Stream: YouTube.com/FIBA

Group K: Szolnoki Olaj (0-1) v Tsmoki-Minsk (0-1)

Szolnoki Olaj and Tsmoki-Minsk have had nearly three weeks to forget the painful opening-day defeats in the Second Round. The Hungarian championship leaders from Szolnok wasted a 17-point second-half lead against Mornar Bar in Montenegro, while Tsmoki were clipped by a single point in a nail-biting finish against Bakken Bears. There will be a lot on the line in Hungary on Wednesday, with the losing team risking falling too far behind their competitors in the race for the Play-Offs.

Time: Wednesday, 18:00 CET
Key Matchup: Kendrick Perry v Devon Saddler
Domestic Form: Szolnoki Olaj maintained the top spot in the Hungarian championship with a 78-69 win over Pecs to climb to a 12-2 record. Tsmoki-Minsk dropped to 4-6 in the VTB League after an 82-81 loss to Zenit St. Petersburg on Sunday, but stayed in 7th position.
Live Stream: YouTube.com/FIBA

Group K: Bakken Bears (1-0) v Mornar Bar (1-0)

The two undefeated Group K teams will square off for superiority in the standings in Denmark after successful starts to their Second Round campaigns before Christmas. The match-up between DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell and Nemanja Vranjes promises to be particularly exciting after the latter singlehandedly dismantled Szolnoki Olaj in a 73-68 win. Meanwhile, Purcell, the second-leading scorer in the competition, was the hero for the Bears in Minsk, making a late free-throw to clinch an 86-85 win.

Time: Wednesday, 18:30 CET
Key Matchup: DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell v Nemanja Vranjes
Domestic Form: Bakken Bears posted two large wins in the Danish Basketligaen, defeating Copenhagen Wolfpack 111-81 on Wednesday at home and 112-74 on Saturday on the road. Having played less games than their competitors, the Bears are in 3rd place with an 8-2 mark. Mornar Bar climbed to 4th place in the ABA league with an 84-79 win over FMP, improving to 8-7.
Live Stream: YouTube.com/FIBA

Group L: Donar Groningen (1-0) v Keravnos (1-0)

Donar Groningen will host Keravnos in the Game of the Day, featuring the two undefeated Group L teams. The Erik Braal-coached Dutch side escaped with a 77-73 win against U-BT Cluj-Napoca, while Keravnos scored an easy 89-72 win against Belfius Mons-Hainaut. Both of the teams have been somewhat under the radar, but their emergence towards the end of the Regular Season and at the start of the Second Round serves as a statement to other teams.

Time: Wednesday, 18:00 CET
Key Matchup: Evan Bruinsma v Mohamed Abukar
Domestic Form: Donar Groningen blew out BAL Weert 93-67 on Saturday to take their record in the Dutch Basketball League to a competition-topping 11-2. Keravnos also handled their business in Cyprus, celebrating an 88-63 win against Apop Paphou. They are second on the table with an 8-2 mark.
Live Stream: YouTube.com/FIBA

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