Khimik Edge Barons In Thriller

Khimik Yuzhny won the battle of the basement sides in Group B as they sneaked a narrow 79-76 victory over BC Barons Riga.

Both teams had lost their opening two EuroCup matches heading into this encounter in Ukraine, but it was hosts Khimik who were celebrating at the end after holding off an Armands Skele-inspired Barons.

Skele can consider himself unlucky to have finished on the losing side after pouring in a match-high 32 points, a tally that was almost twice as much as any other player on the court.

There was very little to separate the two sides throughout the game, although Barons looked to have gained the upper hand when they went on a 24-9 run either side of half-time to turn a 32-27 deficit into a 51-41 lead.

But Khimik responded with a 14-2 streak of their own to end the third quarter ahead at 55-53.

The final period could have gone either way, with Maris Gulbis almost becoming a late hero for Latvian side Barons after replacing Jevgenijs Kosuskins with his team trailing 72-68 with less than three minutes on the clock.

After a Skele lay-up and free throw had reduced Khimik's lead to 74-71, Gublis then downed a three-pointer and back-to-back free throws to put Barons ahead 75-74, a lead they held until the final 29 seconds of the contest.

But Wykeen Kelly then took the game by the scruff of the neck for Khimik, scoring five of his match-haul of 18 points without reply to guide his side to victory Andriy Korochkin added 17 points and two rebounds for the victors, while Martins Skirmants was the only other Barons player aside from Skele to score in double-figures, the center contributing 14 points.