MUNICH (Germany) - PAOK BC sensationally advanced to the FIBA Europe Cup Second Round by eliminating Braunschweig, highlighting a thrilling final round of Regular Season action.
Pallacanestro Reggiana also advanced in Group J with a win over Cibona, in a four-way tie that saw the Croatian side go out after three straight losses. Bashkimi's win over Dijon on Tuesday proved not enough for either side to progress.
Key Storylines
PAOK seal Second Round place in dying seconds with win over Braunschweig;
Reggiana sneak past Cibona to qualify in four-way Group J tie;
Peristeri get the win they needed to progress;
Four FIBA Europe Cup debutants punch their Second Round ticket.
Weekly Highs
Efficiency: Brandon Johns (Sporting CP) - 40 Points: James Frazier Jr. (Absheron Lions) / Nigel Hawkins (Anorthosis Famagusta) - 36 Rebounds: Brandon Johns (Sporting CP) - 15 Assists: Alonzo Verge (RASTA Vechta) - 12 Steals: Multiple players - 5 Blocks: Samuel Payne (Peristeri Betsson) - 3
PAOK qualify for Second Round in dying seconds as Regular Season concludes
Last season's runners-up, PAOK needed game-winning free throws from Ben Moore to grab an 88-87 success over Basketball Lowen Braunschweig in the most remarkable of finishes to win the group, and eliminate their opponents.
Joshua Obiesie thought he had won it for Braunschweig with a basket with 0.5 seconds to go. Out of the timeout, though, Moore was fouled by Josh Hawley with 0.4 seconds left, and he sank both shots to end one of the most dramatic games of the Regular Season.
Cleveland Melvin led PAOK with 26 points, and Moore added 19. Obiesie had a game-high 27, shooting 11-for-13 from the floor.
Pallacanestro Reggiana qualified for the next phase after they outlasted KK Cibona 73-65 to go from bottom to top in the group. Jaylen Barford led Reggiana with 16 points. Kamaka Hepa led Cibona with 15 points and 12 boards as the Croatian side dropped their third straight game after being 3-0 at one point.
Peristeri Betsson advanced after beating Brno 87-73 in the other Group E clash. Needing a win to ensure qualification, the Greek side took the lead for good nearly four minutes into the second quarter and managed to stretch their lead out to as many as 16 points.
Ty Nichols led the victors with 21 points, 6 assists and 5 steals, shooting 46 percent from the floor. Anthony Williams flirted with a double-double of 19 points and 9 assists for Brno, who were already eliminated from the competition.
Reigning FIBA Europe Cup holders Surne Bilbao Basket safely progressed to the Second Round by brushing BC Kutaisi aside 117-54 in Group E. Justin Jaworski led five Bilbao players in double figures with 21 points.
CSM CSU Oradea edged Aliaga Petkimspor 77-71 to punch their ticket to the Second Round. Kris Richard paced the Romanian side with 17 points to guide them to victory. Yannick Franke had 17 for Petkimspor, who also progressed as one of the best runners-up.
BC Prievidza also went through as one of the best runners-up, following a convincing 83-64 win over already qualified Cedevita Junior. Sporting CP progressed with a comfortable 121-67 win over CS Valcea, and KK Bosna also advanced with a 91-64 success over Rilski Sportist.
FIBA