EUROLEAGUE – CSKA, Tau win to march into quarter-finals

MOSCOW (Euroleague) - CSKA Moscow and Tau Ceramica both stormed into the quarter-finals of the Euroleague on Thursday with big wins.

Marcus Goree’s 16 points paced the scoring attack for CSKA in a 93-70 mauling of Unicaja in Russia. Ettore Messina’s team improved to 4-1 in Group G.

Unicaja had been the only side to beat CSKA in the Top 16. Now they are 2-3, just like Barcelona and Lottomatica Roma after their game in the Eternal City.

Roma won that contest 68-63 despite a game-high 21 points from former Spain international Roger Grimau.

If Barcelona prevail next week at home against CSKA, they clinch a place in the last eight. Otherwise, the winner of Roma’s game at Unicaja will progress.

Tau thrashed Aris 90-74 to stay unbeaten at 5-0 and clinch first place in Group E.

Brazil international Tiago Splitter had 18 games and Argentina’s Pablo Prigioni 16 as Tau won the for the seventh straight game at home and also clinched home-court advantage in the quarter-finals.

Aris (1-4) go into their last game next week with no chance of progressing.

The other two sides in Group E are Lietuvos Rytas and Fenerbahce Ulker and they are both 2-3.

The former won their showdown on Thursday in Vilnius 87-84, but Fener will edge the tie-breaker if it comes into play after winning the meeting against the Lithuanians by four points in Istanbul.

Hollis Price poured in a game-high 22 points for the Lithuanian club.

FIBA