MUNICH (Germany) - Gameday 2 concluded with tightly contested games, leaving teams to continue their winning records in the early stages of the competition.
Among the big results, Lokomotiv Plovdiv scored a big win over CSM CSU Raiffeisen Oradea and Tartu Ulikool Maks & Moorits hung on in a nervy finish against MZT Skopje Aerodrom.
Key Storylines
Lokomotiv Plovdiv stun Oradea with double-digit win;
Tartu keep their cool to beat MZT Skopje on the road;
Aleksandrovs leads Riga fight back to beat Neftchi.
Daily Highs
Efficiency: Rihards Aleksandrovs (VEF Riga) - 33 Points: Rihards Aleksandrovs (VEF Riga) / Jomaru Brown (Lokomotiv Plovdiv) - 27 Rebounds: Oscar Kluff (Biotekno Korfez Basket) - 15 Assists: Radovan Kouril (BK Opava) - 12 Steals: Geno Crandall (SL Benfica) - 5 Blocks: Carson Basham (BC Batumi 2010) - 4
Plovdiv secure brilliant win over Oradea; Tartu survive Skopje fightback
Lokomotiv Plovdiv bagged a deserved 79-69 success over CSM CSU Raiffeisen Oradea in Group H.
The Bulgarian side came alive late in the second quarter, then blitzed Oradea in the third quarter, building a comfortable double-digit lead in the fourth to finish victorious - Jomaru Brown leading the way with 27 points.
Tartu Ulikool Maks & Moorits survived a late fightback from MZT Skopje Aerodrom to win 95-92 in a nail-biting Group E clash.
With 38 seconds left, Dimitrije Nikolic hit a three to tie it at 92-92, capping MZT’s comeback from 13 points down with less than four minutes left. Martin Paasoja quickly answered with a cold-blooded three-pointer though down the stretch to win for the Estonian side.
Keith Palek anchored Tartu’s effort; finishing with 21 points and 9 rebounds to lead the way.
VEF Riga came from behind to defeat Neftchi SC 110-94 to secure their second win of Group H.
After trailing by six at the half, the Latvian side pulled away to outscore their counterparts 60-38 in the second half to score the win. Rihards Aleksandrovs led VEF Riga with 27 points on 10-for-12 shooting. Shakael Pryce paced Neftchi with 25 points.
Biotekno Korfez Basket earned an impressive 74-65 victory over Elan Chalon in Group F, as Johnny Davis led the attack with 21 points and 8 rebounds for the Turkish side.
VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier held off Promitheas Patras BC 87-83 on the road in Group A. Eli Brooks amassed 16 points and 6 assists in an all-round show to keep the German side on the winning path.
New Williams led Promitheas with a game-high 23 points on 69 percent shooting, but the Greek side dropped to 1-1.
Patrioti Levice brought Zastal Zielona Gora back down to earth with a 74-71 triumph in Group B.
Tony Hicks iced the game from the foul line for Levice, while Beau Beech had a chance to take the game to overtime, but couldn't connect on his three. Hicks led the way with 18 points as they held scoring record-breaker Trazarien White to just 13.
Keravnos BC grabbed a solid 88-78 road win over Nitra Blue Wings to go 2-0 in Group D. Trevon Allen and Shamar Samuels-Givance scored 18 points apiece for Keravnos, with the latter dishing out 8 assists.
Iraklis BC overpowered Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets 90-73 at home, with Cleveland Melvin, Dontrez Styles and Noah Horchler all scoring 16 points.
SL Benfica continued their winning start by beating Yukatel Denizli Basket 96-91. Aaron Broussard led the winners with 22 points and 7 rebounds, helped by Geno Crandall's 20 points, 7 boards and 5 steals.
FIBA