Lietuvos Rytas returns to the Last 32 by beating CSU Assoft

Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius used a 79-72 win over CSU Asesoft Ploiesti, its fifth in a row, to advance to the Last 32 from Group E. The 2009 Eurocup champs share first place in the group with Banvit at 6-1, while Asesoft Ploiesti suffered its third consecutive defeat and dropped to 3-4 and fourth place. An 11-2 run at the midway point of the third quarter gave the first comfortable cushion, 56-42, to Rytas, which took the lead for good and never looked back, keeping Ploiesti at safe distance till the final buzzer. Antanas Kavaliauskas contributed with 21 points on 9-of-11 two-point shooting in victory, Travis Leslie drained 12 points, Adas Juskevicius bagged 11 with 4 assists and Billy Baron chipped in 10. Marius Runkauskas was the main scorer for the visiting team with 20 points, Dragan Labovic scored 15 and Alhaji Mohammed 11.

Leslie dunked for an early 8-4 margin for the hosts. Gerald Lee answered underneath before a 13-3 run, capped by Baron from beyond the arc, gave a double-digit cushion to Rytas at 21-9 late in the first quarter. Runkauskas scored from mid-range for the visitors, and after Labovic posted free throws for Ploiesti, Arturas Valeika made it 28-15 after 10 minutes. Michalis Pelekanos carried Asesoft within 28-22 early in the second, but Juskevicius re-established a double digit margin, 32-22. Runkauskas and Jarvis Hayes fueled the visitors to close within 39-34 at halftime.

Kavaliauskas raised the margin to 42-34 at the start of the second half, but after a three pointer bagged by Labovic made it 45-40, the home team raced away in an 11-2 run to take a comfortable 56-42 advantage. Labovic kept his side fighting, but a dunk made by Valeika and a free throw by Gediminas Orelik gave a 61-49 advantage to Rytas. Baron in the open court made it 67-51 for the hosts. Dee Brown completed a three-point-play to bring the visitors as close as 67-58, but Orelik fueled the hosts to 13 points in front and after Asesfoft got back within 7 points, a huge dunk by Juskevicius sealed the win.