ULEB Cup - Benetton Treviso reach elimination rounds of ULEB Cup

TREVISO (ULEB Cup) - Benetton Treviso led a parade of eight teams into the last 32 of the ULEB Cup on Tuesday.

Benetton, the Italian giants who had a poor start to the campaign in both Italy and Europe, won 82-64 at home over Artland Dragons to improve to 6-3 in Group H.

They are in second place behind BC Kyiv (7-2), who edged Lukoil Academic (5-4) 85-84 in their game but Lukoil also progressed.

Lionel Chalmers was the main man for Benetton, pouring in 29 points while the Italians made 10 of 22 (45.4%) of their shots from three-point range.

"It was a good game for us, we needed this win to make sure about the qualification," Chalmers said.

Chalmers, a 27-year-old American, is in a rich vein of former. He had season-high 27 points in Benetton's 82-56 triumph over Scavolini Pesaro at the weekend that improved Treviso's record to 8-11.

Benetton coach Mahmuti Oktay gave big man Pops Mensah-Bonsu, their Great Britain
international and Turkey national team point guard Engin Atsur the night off.

Galatasaray Cafe Crown, Swans Gmunden, Red Star Belgrade, ASVEL Villeurbanne, Zadar and Panionios also sealed their progression to the next phase.

Galatasaray won over CSU Asesoft, 72-64, to improve to 6-3 in Group C. They are a game behind Akasvayu Girona, who won 92-72 or Spirou Basket.

Hanzevast Capitals also won on the night against Hemofarm, 94-85.

In Group E, Swans Gmunden (5-4) prevailed 80-69 at home over Antwerp Giants. They are third in the standings behind Triumph Lyubertsy (8-1), who beat Benetton Fribourg 76-61.

KK Buducnost (6-3) are in second place. They lost at Hapoel Galil Elyon, 82-81.

Red Star Belgrade sealed their progression with a 77-76 overtime victory at Fortitudo Bologna.

They scored the last six points of the extra period to clinch the win.

Dragan Sakota, the Fortitudo boss who was coaching against his former team, offered his congratulations to Red Star but also bemoaned his team's performance.

"We had bad choices on offense and defense, both in regulation and overtime...

"(They) forced us to play like they wanted. We could not defend on their pick and roll. I feel very bad for the way we lost this game ..."

Fortitudo had earlier this week received some good news.

Euroleague Basketball bosses ordered the replay of their game at Telindus Oostende, a contest that ended in controversial fashion when a Fortitudo three-ball at the end was not allowed because of an error by officials.

Panionios lost 79-74 at home in Group G to Gran Canaria but still advanced, as did ASVEL who won 84-72 over Slask.

Zadar cruised past visiting Hapoel Jerusalem 103-75 to reach the elimination rounds as well.

Other results from Tuesday's ULEB Cup games:
Group A - Alba Berlin 73 Turk Telekom 81, Guildford Heat 76 Siauliai 86 and DKV Joventut 83 KK Bosna 66; Group B - FMP 75 Köln 99ers 65, Elan Chalon 97 BK Ventspils 89 OT, Ovarense 80 Besiktas C. Turka 94; Group D - Azovmash Mariupol 73 Pamesa 74, Khimki 90 Anwil Wloclawek 63, SLUC Nancy 84 Frankfurt 78; Group F - Dynamo Moscow 107 Panellinios 73, Telindus Oostende 83 CEZ Nymburk 81; Group G - Ludwigsburg 87 BC Kalev/Cramo 62; Group H - Pau-Orthez 68 ASK Riga 66; Group I - PGE Turow 73 UNICS Kazan 68; EiffelTowers 83 Strasbourg 60.

FIBA