BC Kyiv now ties for the top spot in difficult Group H by edging ASK Riga 72-81 in the Latvian capital on Wednesday night. Kyiv improved to 5-2 and shares first place with Lukoil Academic. Meanwhile, ASK dropped to 2-5 and is all but mathematically out of the elimination rounds. Marcus Faison led the winners with 21 points in 5-for-7 three-pointers. Pooh Jeter and Artur Drozdov each added 20 while Manuchar Markoishvili had 10 for Kyiv. Curtis Millage led ASK with 18 points while Raitis Grafs barely missed a double-double with 11 points and 9 rebounds for the hosts, that led 9-1 early. Jeter and Faison brought Kyiv back to life that Grafs kept ASK ahead, 19-15, after 10 minutes. Millage boosted the hosts' lead to 25-18 but Faison and Markoishvili helped Kyiv to tie the game at 31-31. A 7-0 run that Dwayne Broyles capped with a basket gave ASK a 38-31 halftime edge. Drozdov shined after the break and joined forces with Markoishvili for a 44-48 Kyiv edge. Sandis Buskevics allowed ASK to stay ahead, 53-51, after 30 minutes. Grafs gave ASK its last lead, 69-68. Drozdov and Jeter fueled a 3-13 final run that allowed Kyiv to escape with a big win.

Jacob Jaacks was first to score for Kyiv on a free throw, but ASK rolled since that opening. Aerick Sanders scored inside, igniting a 9-0 run in which Broyles had 7 points, including a three-point play that boosted the hosts' lead to 9-1. Jeter stroke from downtown to get Kyiv going, soon added another basket and then fed Josh Davis to get the guests within 12-8. Gatis Jahovics and AJ Bramlett stepped up with consecutive baskets and even when Faison got Kyiv even closer at 17-15, a layup by Grafs gave ASK a 19-15 edge after 10 minutes. Bramlett and Millage kept ASK ahead, 25-18, early in the second quarter. Faison and Markoishvili combined for 13 quick points to bring Kyiv back in the game, 31-31. It didn't last long, however, as a three-pointer by Millage ignited a 7-0 run that Broyles capped with a basket for a 38-31 ASK edge at halftime. Broyles scored again to give ASK its biggest lead, 40-31, right after the break. Drozdov and Markoishvili fueled a 0-7 run to bring Kyiv back in the game, 40-38. A three-pointer by Faison and a power layup by Jeter completed the guests' comeback, 42-43. Drozdov stroke from downtown and Faison added a basket for a 44-48 Kyiv lead. Buskevics made free throws and then followed a triple with a final basket to put Riga back ahead, 53-51, after 30 minutes. Jahovics and Grafs hit respective triples early in the fourth quarter but a red hot Faison kept Kyiv in the game, 61-61. Drozdov shined with consecutive baskets while free throws by Markoishvili gave the guests a 63-68 edge with 4 minutes to go. Grafs took over 5 points in a 6-0 run for a 69-68 ASK edge, but Drozdov followed a basket with a triple to make Kyiv regain the lead, 69-73, with 2 minutes remaining. Jeter sealed the outcome with free throws to make Kyiv add an important win.