Neptunas Klaipeda remains alive in the hunt to advance to the next stage after downing Bisons Loimaa 85-72 on Wednesday. Neptunas raised its record to 2-4 to tie Bisons and Spartak St. Petersburg, just a win outside from the third place. Marius Runkauskas was hot from downtown in the last three minutes and collected 16 points to lead the winners with Martynas Mazeika also posting 16, while Justus Sinica added 15 and Vytautas Sarakauskas pulled down 10 boards. Three players scored 15 points apiece for Bisons Loimaa: John Williamson, Bily Keys and Tuukka Kotti.

The score was tied five times, the last at 11-11, before 9 unanswered points capped by an Andrew Smith layup gave a comfortable 20-11 cushion to Neptunas. Carl Lindbom’s jumper cut the difference before a three pointer nailed by Runkauskas ignited the hosts to 26-13. However a 5-18 run capped by Billy Keys with 8 points in a row tied the game at 31-31. Williamson scored from mid range with 2 seconds left to the halftime buzzer, giving a 33-34 advantage to the Finnish champs. Back from the lockers the game remained balanced through the midway point of the quarter, with Mikko Koivisto scoring from downtown to make it 47-46 for the hosts. Neptunas responded with an amazing 18-6 run highlighted by three pointers by Edgars Ulanovas and Mindaugas Girdziunas to lead with a comfortable 65-52 margin at the end of the third quarter. The visiting team did not give up as Koivisto capped a 3-11 surge to stay alive, 68-63 with five minutes left. Back-to-back baskets from long distance netted by Runkauskas gave again a big margin to Neptunas, 78-65. Antto Nikkarinen and Keys tried again to push the guests before Runkauskas scored again from downtown to seal the home team win.