Telindus Oostende fought off strong early challenge by visiting Panelliinios to take a 83-71 victory on Tuesday that could be crucial in a tightening Group F race. Oostende improved to 3-3, but needed to as the teams it was tied with, CEZ Nymburk and Beghelli Bolonga, upset group co-leaders Dynamo Moscow and Red Star Belgrade. Oostende, Nyburk and Bolonga are all tied for third place now, just a victory behind Dynamo and Red Star, both 4-2. Sam Van Rossom paced the winners early and finished with 18 points, while Titus Ivory had most of his 16 points in the second half. Panellinios, playing under interim assistant coach Vangelis Mageiras, got 22 points from Anthony Grundy, 14 from Marton Bader, 11 from Evangelos Sklavos and 10 from Lewis Sims.

With a pair of early three-pointers, Van Rossom gave the hosts a quick 8-2 advantage, but Panellinios reacted strong, with Grundy and Bader taking their team's first lead at 9-11. The visitors' went up by 11-15 before Van Rossom again sparked a 6-0 run for the hosts. Another push that included a four-point play by Nikos Argyropoulos left Panellinios ahead 21-24 after 10 minutes. Niether team could hold an advantage long. Jerry Green took it back with consecutive baskets for Oostende, while Sims responded for Panellinios at 27-28. Van Rossom returned with yet another triple for the biggest lead yet, 38-31. Panellinios did all it could with a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Sklavos to pull within 42-37 at the half. Bader's baskets to open the second half bot Panellinios as close as 45-41 before Elver Ovcina saved Oostende. A couple minutes later, Titus Ivory's triple and Veselin Petrovic's free throws were good for the hosts' first double-digit difference, 55-45. Panellinios could only get as close as 60-53 by the time the third quarter ended. The difference fell to 60-55 as Pantelis Papaioakim hit the final quarter's first shot for Panellinios, but the visitors would not see the bottom of the basket again for awhile. Green and Ivory restored Oostende's double-digit lead at 65-55 before McCray added to it with a big triple. Oostende kept its fourth-quarter run going until 14-3 and a lead of 74-56 before the Panellinios reaction came and, despite 13 points in 4 minutes by Grundy, proved too little and too late.