ULEB CUP - Joksimovic turns on the style as Hemofarm whip Buducnost

VRSAC (ULEB  Cup) - Several clubs already have one foot in the last 16 of the ULEB Cup after the first legs of the round 32 action.

Hemofarm, UNICS Kazan, DKV Joventut and BC Khimki are almost certain to advance after rolling up big wins.

Serbian outfit Hemofarm defeated Buducnost 82-56 with Nebojsa Joksimovic tearing apart the Montenegrin club with 29 points.

The Slovenian's previous high in the competition this season had been 18 points.

France international Tariq Kirksay buried four of seven shots from three-point range on his way to 31 points and Lithuania big man Darjus Lavrinovic added 21 as UNICS rolled to a 91-65 triumph over Turk Telekom.

UNICS, who signed CSKA Moscow's Nikita Kurbanov on loan for the remainder of the campaign, played him 21 minutes and got seven points and six rebounds out of the 2.02m forward.

Russians BC Khimki hit the road and concluded a bizarre and very emotional day for Köln 99ers with a 91-71 thumping of the German club.

The Germany BBL announced late in the afternoon that due to financial problems, Köln had been stripped of their license to play in the top flight but the ruling did not apply to ULEB Cup action.

During the game, Köln announced on their website that a new sponsor had been found and that the club would be allowed to compete in Germany after all.

More details about the new financial backers, the club said, would be revealed at an 11.30am press conference at Köln.

Demond Mallet erupted for 28 points to lead the recently-crowned Copa del Rey champions and EuroCup winners of two seasons ago, DKV Joventut, to an 89-59 triumph at Allianz Swanz Gmunden in Austria.

Three other sides from the ACB crashed to defeats, however, with last year's EuroCup champions Akasvayu Girona falling 93-85 at Elan Chalon in France, KK Bosna holding off Kalise Gran Canaria 89-82 and Panionios beating visiting Pamesa Valencia 70-59.

Ukraine's two representatives claimed narrow wins, with Azovmash Mariupol - last year's runners-up in the EuroCup - edging Adriatic League title-chasers Zadar 82-80 and BC Kyiv claiming a 65-61 triumph at Telindus Oostende.

Hapoel Jerusalem, who upset Maccabi Tel Aviv in the final of the Israeli Cup, won 88-73 over previously-unbeaten Besiktas C. Turka 88-73.

At the Pionir in Belgrade, Red Star outscored Benetton Treviso 30-19 in the first quarter and used that as a platform for an 81-71 win over Benetton Treviso.

Asco Slask have their work cut out for them when they travel to Moscow after falling at home to Dynamo 85-78.

Four games are evenly poised ahead of the second legs after Lukoil Academic edged BK Ventspils 67-64, CEZ Nymburk drew 61-61 with PGE Turow, Artland Dragons beat visiting Triumph 81-75 and ASVEL and Galatasaray ended in a 69-69 tie.

FIBA