EUROCUP - Besiktas, Iverson get first win in Europe

ISTANBUL (Eurocup) - Allen Iverson and Besiktas Cola Turka finally tasted victory in the Eurocup on Tuesday by winning 80-74 in Group B over Asvel Basket.

Off to an 0-2 start in the competition, the Turkish club was headed for a third setback when trailing 57-51 with 10 minutes to go in Istanbul.

They came good at the end.

Iverson finished with nine points on four-of-12 shooting from the floor.

He also had three assists, five rebounds and two steals.

Matt Walsh ended the game with 13 points, 14 boards and 11 assists for Asvel (1-3).

Also in Group B, BG Gottingen travelled to Vrsac, Serbia, and beat Hemofarm to improve to 3-0 and drop the hosts to 2-2.

Mike Scott and Dwayne Anderson scored 26 points apiece for the Violets, who won last season's EuroChallenge.

UNICS Kazan are flying high at the top of Group A after a 98-65 win at Le Mans.

The Russian team is now 3-1 after a 23-point performance from Poland international Maciej Lampe.

Also for UNICS, Terrell Lyday poured in 19 and Croatia guard Marko Popovic 17.

Popovic was four of six from three-point range.

Turkish outfit Banvit defeated EWE Baskets Oldenburg 81-72 in the other Group A clash.

Le Mans, Banvit and EWE Baskets are each 2-2.

In Group C, Gran Canaria and Budivelnik are each 3-1.

The Canary Islanders rolled to an 89-70 victory at BC Siauliai in Lithuania while Buducnost m:tel sent Budivelnik crashing to their first defeat, 69-54.

Aris won for the third time in four games in Group D, prevailing 85-76 at home over Cedevita Zagreb.

Sharon Drucker's side had five players reach double digits in scoring, led by Kostas Charalampidis who scored 16.

Aleksandar Petrovic, the Cedevita coach, didn't have four key players because of injuries.

"We knew beforehand that it was difficult to win in the arena of our opponents but I'm happy with how we played," he said.

Azovmash, who scraped a 92-88 win over Hapoel Gilboa (1-3), are second in the standings at 2-2 ahead of Cedevita (2-2).

Galatasaray (3-1) suffered their first defeat of the Eurocup, falling 66-62 at Panellinios (2-2) in Group E.

Benet Cantu (2-2) won at home over GasTerra Flames (1-3).

In Group F, Benetton Treviso are 4-0 ahead of PAOK and Asefa Estudiantes (both 2-2) and Chorale Roanne (0-4).

Estu upset Barcelona at the weekend in the Spanish ACB but fell 79-72 at Benetton and PAOK prevailed 72-60 at Roanne.

Hapoel Jerusalem lead the way in Group G at 3-1 following a 91-82 success at home against CEZ Nymburk (2-2).

Cajasol Sevilla are 2-2 after falling 83-82 at VEF Riga (1-3).

In Group H, Alba Berlin romped to a fourth win in as many games, beating Pepsi Caserta (2-2) at home 79-62.

Anwil Wloclawek (0-4), who have relieved coach Igor Grisczuk off his duties, suffered a 98-83 defeat at home to Krasnye Krylia (2-2).

Grisczuk led Poland's national team in EuroBasket Division A this summer.

FIBA