MUNICH (Germany) - Five teams advanced to the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA Europe Cup as the Play-Off picture begins to take shape.
UCAM Murcia, Surne Bilbao Basket, PAOK BC, KK Bosna BH Telecom and Pallacanestro Reggiana are all through to the next round - with three spots still up for grabs.
Key Storylines
Murcia become first team through to the last eight with win over Szombathely;
Last season's finalists, Bilbao and PAOK also advance;
Reggiana and Bosna also confirm their spots.
Weekly Highs
Efficiency: Yannick Franke (Aliaga Petkimspor) / Thomas Bropleh (CSM CSU Raiffeisen Oradea) - 23 Points: Thomas Bropleh (CSM CSU Raiffeisen Oradea) - 22 Rebounds: Marchelus Avery Jr (Falco Vulcano Energia KC Szombathely) - 10 Assists: Multiple players - 6 Steals: Breein Tyree (PAOK BC) - 4 Blocks: Dylan Addae Wusu (Energa Trefl Sopot) / Bent Leuchten (Rostock Seawolves) - 3
Murcia advance to Play-Offs; Sopot stun Rostock
UCAM Murcia booked their place in the FIBA Europe Cup Quarter-Finals with an 80-75 road win over KC Szombathely in Group K.
A blistering first-half performance from the Spaniards did the damage, as Murcia led 49-34. Szombathely rallied and, with 1:17 left, took a 75-74 lead. But Murcia countered with a 6-0 finish to deal the win and their progression in the competition.
Devontae Cacok scored eight of his 16 points from the free throw line to lead Murcia. Strahinja Jovanovic led Szombathely with 14.
In Tuesday's only game, Energa Trefl Sopot grabbed its first win of the Second Round by shocking Rostock Seawolves 83-74.
Kasper Suurorg and Szymon Zapala both hit 17 points to lead Sopot to the win. D'Shawn Schwarz had a game-high 18 for Rostock, who dropped their second game in a row.
PAOK and Bilbao advance following road wins
PAOK BC comfortably overcame BC Prievidza 87-67 to advance past the Second Round, as they hit 11 three-pointers, while holding their Slovakian counterparts to just 39 percent from the field.
Breein Tyree led a balanced scoring effort for the Greek outfit with 16 points, shooting 54 percent from the floor. Anderson Tolbert and Joe Toussaint both had 12 for Prievidza.
The holders, Surne Bilbao Basket, also booked their place in the Quarter-Finals with a 90-72 win away at Sporting CP, remaining unbeaten after four games.
Bilbao had to overcome a shaky start, as they trailed by as many as eight points in the first quarter, but once the Spanish side took the lead late in the opening frame, they never let go. Luke Petrasek paced the winners with 17 points and 6 rebounds.
Reggiana and Bosna punch Quarter-Final tickets
KK Bosna overcame CSM CSU Oradea 76-63 in Sarajevo behind a deadly 18-8 second quarter, overturning a nine-point first quarter deficit and taking a 33-32 lead at the break, which they built on as the game progressed.
Alfonso Plummber led Bosna with 17 points, supported by Jarrod West, who chipped in with 13 on 5-for-10 shooting. Thomas Bropleh led Oradea with 22 points.
Pallacanestro Reggiana also coasted to the next round; leading from start to finish and dismissing Cedevita Junior 83-60.
Jaime Echenique paced the victors with 20 points and 7 rebounds, as he went a superb 7-for-11 from the floor. Luksa Buljevic hit three triples to lead Cedevita with 14 points.
Petkimspor remain spotless to close on QFs
Aliaga Petkimspor took another step closer to qualifying for the Quarter-Finals by downing Dinamo BDS Sassari 82-70.
Yannick Franke maintained his splendid form, leading the Turkish side with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals. Jacob Pullen amassed 17 points for Sassari.
Meanwhile, the scheduled game between Peristeri Betsson and Casademont Zaragoza was postponed.
FIBA