EUROLEAGUE – Khryapa dagger saves CSKA, stuns Maroussi

ATHENS (Euroleague) – If Russia receive a wild card to play at the 2010 FIBA World Championship, Viktor Khryapa will no doubt be one of their biggest stars.

He reminded everyone of his big-game mentality on Wednesday night when burying a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to lift CSKA Moscow to a 66-65 win at Maroussi BC in Euroleague Group C.

CSKA, now playing under Russian coach Evgeny Pashutin, were pushed to the limit by a Maroussi team that had to make it through the qualifying rounds just to play in the competition.

In a close encounter from start to finish in front of a sparse crowd of 1,650 at O.A.K.A., Trajan Langdon put the visitors in front with a baseline jump shot 10 seconds from the end.

Maroussi then went in front by two after Billy Keys' three-ball from the top of the key with just 1.4 seconds left.

After a CSKA timeout, Khryapa, who missed the EuroBasket in Poland this summer through injury, took center stage.

Having misfired on his previous three shots from long range, he caught an inbounds pass and launched the game-winning shot from behind the arc while being closely guarded.

Khryapa finished with 16 points while Langdon had a game-high 18.

“I want to saw a few words about Viktor Khryapa, who recently recovered from an injury,” Pashutin said after the game.

“Psychologically speaking, this is a very important win, not only for the team, but also for him."

Kostas Kaimakoglou led a balanced Maroussi attack with 15 points.

In Group A, Montepaschi Siena destroyed Cibona 85-40 in Zagreb, Zalgiris thrashed ASVEL Villeurbanne in Kaunas 71-52 and Barcelona hammered Fenerbahce Ulker 82-59 in Istanbul.

In Group B, Olympiacos prevailed 94-72 at home over Entente Orleanaise while in Group D, EWE Baskets Oldenburg won 87-81 at Asseco Prokom Gdynia.

Maccabi Tel Aviv won their Euroleague opener in Group C at home back on October 15 against Union Olimpija, 85-65.

FIBA