Rashad Anderson exploded for 27 points on his EuroChallenge debut to fire BK Ventspils to an 82-71 victory at Khimik in Ukraine.

The visitors from Latvia trailed 37-34 at half-time with lightning-quick point guard Curtis Millage's 12 points leading the home side.

Ventspils took the lead for good three minutes into the second half when playmaker Janis Strelnieks hit a trey for a 44-42 advantage.

With Anderson scoring at will - his jumper took the advantage to 62-54 at the end of the third quarter and increased his points haul to 19 - Ventspils kept their noses in front.

Khimik kept the pressure on until the end, though.

Toni Bizaca's shot from the arc gave the home side hope, cutting the Ventspils lead to 65-62, but after Millage missed a lay-up that could have pulled Khimik closer, Ventspils counter-attacked and Anderson drilled a three-pointer to take the lead back to six.

Ventspils remained comfortably ahead the rest of the way.

Saulius Kuzminskas also had a big game for the winners, scoring 15 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.

Millage, Travis Garrison and Bizaca scored 13 apiece in defeat.

Millage finished an assist shy of a double-double.