Liga Sudamericana - Cucutá-Norte defeat Flamengo – both advance in Liga Sudamericana

CUCUTÁ (Liga Sudamericana) - Cucutá-Norte scraped an 83-82 win over Flamengo on the third and final day of Group A action in the Liga Sudamericana while Obras Sanitarias crashed to a heavy defeat to Cocodrilos de Caracas.

Cocodrilos lost their opening two games but still had a chance to advance in the competition as one of the top two sides after hammering Argentinians Obras in Thursday’s first game.

The Venezuelans put the result beyond doubt with a 17-4 run over the last 5:22 of the first half for a 44-30 lead at the break.

Henry Páez and Eddie Elisma each had 10 points at half-time for Cocodrilos. The Caracas outfit stayed on top with a comfortable advantage the rest of the way and the victory meant that they would progress if Flamengo were to defeat Cucutá-Norte in the second game of the day.

Instead, the Group A hosts Cucutá prevailed and by the narrowest of margins.

An Eduardo Torres basket lifted the home side into an 83-81 lead with just under two minutes remaining.

Only one more point was scored the rest of the way, a free throw by Flamengo’s Frederico Lima.

Brazil international Rafael Araujo was off target for twice for Flamengo while Lima also missed a shot from three-point range.

Torres finished with a team-high 24 points for Cucutá-Norte while Edgar Moreno had 21 and Monty Wilson 19.

Cucutá were eight of 16 from three-point range, with Wilson drilling four of nine and Moreno three of five.

Flamengo were 10 of 30 from behind the arc, with Marcelinho Machado drilling six of 16 on his way to a game-high 26 points.

Jefferson weighed in with 17 for the Brazilian team.

The day’s outcomes left Cucutá-Norte first in Group A and Flamengo second, both with 2-1 records.

Cocodrilos and Obras both missed out on the next phase with 1-2 records.

Quimsa and Regatas Corrientes of Argentina, Minas Tenis Clube of Brazil and Meta La Salle are in Group B, which tips off on February 24.

FIBA