MUNICH (Germany) - There was a dramatic start to the FIBA Europe Cup Play-Offs on Wednesday, with the first three Quarter-Finals hanging in the balance after the first-leg encounters were decided by one score.

Bakken Bears, HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim and Unahotels Reggio Emilia were the victors as they gain slender advantages to take into the second leg of their respective ties.

Debutants Crailsheim sealed a thrilling 71-68 success at home to ZZ Leiden with Maurice Stuckey's late basket extending the cushion. The German side had trailed inside the final two minutes, but seized the initiative with a 5-0 burst to help take the win.

TJ Shorts top scored with 14 points to go with 5 rebounds and 4 assists with three other players netting double figures for Crailsheim. The hosts benefited with 22 points from turnovers in a game that had 17 lead changes throughout.

Reggio Emilia overcame a slow start to edge out Legia Warszawa for a 71-68 victory in Poland's capital. Andrea Cinciarini paved the way with 14 assists for the visitors, while Mikael Hopkins and Arturs Strautins both posted double-doubles.

Raymond Cowels led the home side with a game-high 19 points as they had jumped out to an early 10-0 start. Legia trailed at the half, but reestablished the lead to move 65-57 ahead in the fourth quarter before being undone by a run of 11 unanswered points from Reggio Emilia.

"For sure we are able to beat the Italian team and we do not give up the fight for qualification to the semi-finals of the FIBA Europe Cup," Legia head coach Wojciech Kaminski commented afterwards, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling second leg.

Meanwhile, Bakken Bears - who thought their campaign had ended until earlier this month - are now one step closer to reaching the Semi-Finals after they battled past CSM CSU Oradea for an 84-82 first leg victory.

Marvelle Harris fired in 27 points off the bench to fuel the Bears on 10-of-13 shooting, while Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson added 18 points as they used a pivotal 34-18 third period. Bakken led by as many as 10 at the start of fourth, but Oradea rallied to keep the tie close for the return fixture in Romania.

The Quarter-Finals action continues on Thursday as Sporting CP host Bahcesehir College in the final game before the second legs take place next week.

FIBA