Hairston, Mavrokefalides lead AEK to overtime win at Oktyabr

AEK Athens took a big step toward a spot in the Last 32 by escaping from Volgograd with a 78-82 overtime victory over Krasny Oktyabr on Wednesday in Group F. AEK raised its record to 4-2, while the home team dropped to 1-5 and sits in last place with few chances to reach the next round. Late in the third quarter, AEK Athens exploded through Malik Hairston and Loukas Mavrokefalides to take a 48-57 margin, but a furious 15-4 comeback by the hosts set up a thrilling finale. Mavrokefalides forced the game to overtime and Hairston scored a crucial three to push his side to victory. Mavrokefalides amassed a double-double of 28 points and 10 rebounds for a performance index rating of 36, while Malik Hairston added 16 ad Milan Milosevic 11. A great losing effort came from DJ Cooper, who finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists, while JaJuan Johnson added 17 and Jordan Hamilton 16.

Evgenii Voitiuk gave an early 8-2 led to the hosts with a shot from mid-range before Dusan Sakota hit a three to bring AEK close within 10-8. A 10-2 run, fueled by Cooper with 4 points, gave the first double-digit margin to Oktyabr, 20-10. Hamilton and Dimitris Katsivelis exchanged jumpers in the final minute to make it 22-14 at the first break. Milan Milosevic after two minutes of the second quarter brought AEK within 22-20. Johnson answered by pushing away the guests, 26-20. Dimitrios Mavroeidis completed the comeback by tying it at 26-26. Marc Carter’s pull-up jumper put the visitors in front 29-30. He then scored again, but Cooper fixed the score 33-34 at halftime.

Back-to-back baskets by Philip Scrubb extended the difference to 33-38 before Cooper kept his side close at 40-42 with a shot from downtown. Mavrokefalides and Hairston exploded for the visiting team to go up 42-50 at the midway point of the quarter and then raised the advantage to double figure at 46-57 before Johnson posted a jumper to make it 48-57. Viacheslav Zaytsev scored a jumper to get Oktyabr back on track at 55-59, but Milosevic hit from downtown to further reject the hosts, 55-64. Oktyabr started an amazing come back to tie it at 66-66 through Cooper from beyond the arc and take the lead 70-68 through Zaytsev before Mavrokefalides forced the game to an extra session. Giannis Kalampokis scored to make it 70-74, but Cooper tied it with a jumper. Hairston boosted AEK from long distance to make it 74-79 the visitors maintained a slim margin with good accuracy from the foul line.