Bakken Bears nip Mornar Bar in overtime again; Alba advance

BAR (FIBA Europe Cup) - Bakken Bears and Alba Fehervar joined the ever-growing ranks of teams qualified for the Round of 16 after scoring major wins on Wednesday.

On the best-ever international run for a Danish club, the Bears took part in another Oscar-worthy thriller in Group K, claiming an 87-76 overtime victory against Mornar Bar on the road in Montenegro.

Having clipped their Balkan opponents in extra time in the first meeting as well, the Danes needed a game-tying three-pointer by Tony Bishop at the end of regulation to extend the game, but were the dominant side from thereon.

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell led the Bears with a 22-point effort, Jeffrey Crockett added 16 points and 6 steals, while Michel Diouf double-doubled with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Derek Needham and Nemanje Vranjes were the only double-digit scorers for the home side with 22 and 14 points respectively, but couldn't save the Mornar ship down the stretch.

The Montenegrin side will have to play Tsmoki-Minsk for the only remaining place in the Second Round after the Belarusian side swept aside Szolnoki Olaj 86-61 earlier in the evening.

Meanwhile, Alba Fehervar locked in their spot in the Play-Offs with another close win against Demir Insaat on the road, nipping their Group J opponents 78-75 at the end of a nail-biting encounter that saw the Turkish side's playcaller Ozhan Civgin ejected.

Alandise Harris and Trevis Simpson paced the victorious Hungarian club with 16 points apiece, while Evaldas Kairys filled the boxscore in a losing effort for Demir Insaat, finishing the game with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and a couple of steals.

In the other game of the group, Egis Kormend moved into second place with an 86-81 victory over Nevezis Kedainiai behind rock-solid road performances from Andre Hollins and Justin Tuoyo, who combined for 41 points.

Despite picking up a loss against Keravnos earlier this week, Donar Groningen could have become the third team to move into the Round of 16, but Belfius Mons-Hainaut denied them that opportunity with an 80-77 triumph over U-BT Cluj-Napoca in Romania.

Having improved to a 2-3 record themselves, the Garlon Green-led Belgians extended their FIBA Europe Cup season until the final day of the Second Round.

Already in the next phase of the competition, ESSM Le Portel inscribed their 10th consecutive victory by running Kataja Basket out of the gym in the fourth quarter for a lopsided 90-68 victory, despite starting the final frame down by a point.

FIBA