KK Buducnost Voli Podgorica escaped from Kiev with a thrilling 75-79 victory over Budivelnik to join a three-way-tie atop the Group I with the home team and Banvit BK Bandirma all with 2-1 records. Budivelnik used a 23-7 run bridging halftime to take a comfortable 63-51 advantage late in the third quarter, but Buducnost replied opening the fourth quarter with 14 unanswered points to regain the lead, 65-66. The teams exchanged leads in a thrilling finish before a three-pointer by Aleksa Popovic gave a 72-75 lead to the visitors, who were able to maintain a slim margin till the final buzzer. Cedomir Vitkovac led the winners with a double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds for an index rating of 30. Vladimir Mihailovic added 14 points, Marko Popovic 11 and Dusko Bunic 10. Malcolm Delaney paced the home side with 20 points and 5 assists, Michailis Anisimov scored 17, Leo Lyons recorded a double-double of 12 points and 10 boards, while Artur Drozdov bagged 10 points.

Vitkovac opened the scoring with a three-point-play and added a jumper before Strahinja Milosevic capped a 9-2 run for Buducnost with a layup. Lyons free throws made it 6-9, but a Gerald Lee put back fueled the visitors. Four free throws and a jumper by Anisimov gave a 12-11 advantage to Budivelnik. The lead changed hands three times before Delaney from mid range scored for 18-15, but Marko Popovic’s three pointer and a Bunic buzzer-beater gave an 18-20 margin to the Montenegrin champs at the end of the first quarter. Mihailovic scored 4 of 8 unanswered points by the guests early in the second quarter to take a double-digit margin at 18-28. Frank Robinson from long distance, Geroge Tsitsadze from mid range and Delaney with a free throw cut the different to 28-30. Marko Popovic scored from downtown and Demarquis Boost went all the way to re-establish a 31-38 cushion. Lyons and Anisimov caught fire by scoring 6 consecutive points to regain the lead, 40-38. Vitkovac completed another three-point-play and scored from beyond the arc with a second left to half-time to make it 40-44 for Buducnost.

An Artur Drozdov three pointer tied the score at 46-46 and Anisimov and Delaney added back-to-back jumpers to create a slim margin for the home team. Dainius Salenga and Anisimov scored easy layups and Drozdov dunked off a steal to cap a 16-5 run that bridged halftime. Lee kept Buducnost in the hunt, but Delaney and Drzodov amassed 7 consecutive points to get a comfortable 63-51 margin late in the third quarter. A Bunic layup fueled Buducnost, Vitkovac hit his two attempts from the foul line, while Leo Lyons’s short jumper fixed the score at 65-55 for Budivelnik through three quarters. Mihailovic highlighted a 14-0 run for the visitors with 8 points. Marko Popovic also hit a three pointer and Bunic a layup in the run, which made it 65-69. Drozdov from downtown sounded the charge for his side, while Delaney scored a jumper to put Budivelnik on top 70-69. With 4:12 left in the game, Bost tied the score from the foul line. Vitkovac scored again for a 70-72 advantage for the visiting team, Delnaey tied from the foul one before a deep triple by Aleksa Popovic gave a 72-75 cushion to Buducnost with 1:32 remaining. Delaney scored free throws with 16 seconds left to close within 74-75, but Milosevic and Aleksa Popovic scored free throws to make it 74-77, Delaney also missed 1 of his 2 with 4 seconds left and Bunic sealed the win by scoring both his shots with 2 seconds left.