Aris BSA 2003 downed Siauliai 85-67 on Tuesday in Thessaloniki, Greece, to move into first place in Group C with a 3-1 record. Aris now has a one-win advanatage over second-place sides Hapoel Jerusalem and Zadar. It hosts Zadar in its next game after the winter break. Siauliai meanwhile dropped to 1-3 and sits in last place. A 13-0 run in the last quarter made the difference for Aris, with three consecutive baskets from downtown nailed by Michalis Kakiouzis, Jeremy Richardson and Nikos Hatzivrettas to lead 73-60. That capped an amazing performance from beyond the arc for the game in which Aris was 14 of 27. Kakiouzis led the way with 24 points and 7 rebounds, Richardson had 14 points, Juan Dixon 13 and Hatzivrettas 10 while Andy Betts pulled down 13 rebounds. Derrick Low led Siauliai with 16 points, Arvydas Siksnius netted 13 and Mindaugas Kuzminskas 12.

The game has a balanced start with Low and Richardson exchanging triples to make it 9-9 after six minutes. The guests tried to escape and veteran forward Mindaugas Zukauskas grabbed an offensive board to convert it into 2 points for a slim 11-17 cushion. Dimos Dikoudis scored from mid-range to get to 15-18 before Brandon Brown made it 15-20 after 10 minutes. Three consecutive baskets from downtown by Kakiouzis twice and Dixon gave Aris the lead, 24-20, forcing Siauliai to call a timeout. Low hit a three coming of it, but the hosts remained on fire with another three pointer from Keydren Clark for a 27-23 edge. Dixon reached made it 35-29 from the three-point land with four minutes remaining till halftime, but Zukauskas tied it 37-37 two minutes later with another rocket from long distance. Raitis Grafs and Aaron Miles scored layups to finish in a perfect balance, 39-39, at halftime.

A three-point-play completed by Kuzminskas and an offensive rebound converted by Brown gave Siauliai a 40-48 lead. Richardson kept Aris in charge with a dunk after Kuzminskas capped an 11-1 run from the foul line. Late in the quarter, Kakiouzis dished 2 easy assists on high-low plays to Betts go up 49-51. Nikos Argyropoulos hit a three pointer followed by a layup and Dixon put Aris ahead 54-52 after an outstanding 14-2 charge. Low posted just 1 of his attempt from the foul line to make it 54-53 for the hosts after 30 minutes. Richardson opened the last quarter scoring from downtown, but Deividas Gailius showed the pride of Siauliai tying it 57-57. Dikoudis and Hatzivrettas broke the tie for a 64-60 advantage with five minutes left and Kakiuozis scored the last of three consecutive three-pointers to cap a 13-0 run for a 73-60 lead. The guests tried to reply with Low, but Aris seemed to be in control of the tempo and with the accuracy from the foul line of its veterans Kakiouzis and Hatzivrettas, ensured the win.