EuroChallenge

Darrel Mitchell came back for game 3 of the series to contribute 15 points and five rebounds in Oostende's win

BC Oostende defeated BK Ventspils 70-63 on Wednesday evening to claim the last spot on offer for the EuroChallenge Final Four.

The Belgian side bounced back from last week's double-overtime defeat in Latvia and won the Game 3 decider in front of their own fans.

Oostende appeared to be pulling away after half-time when they opened a 39-31 lead but the visitors' Janis Strelnieks hit a jumper and a lay-up and Brandon Hunter followed with a basket to cut the deficit to 39-37.

Dusan Katnic followed with a pair of free-throws to ignite an 7-0 run that put the hosts back in the ascendancy.

Caleb Green had the last five points in that scoring spurt to make it a 46-37 advantage for the Belgians.

The lead then ballooned to 60-44 midway through the fourth quarter after a Green lay-up.

However, Ventspils battled back and closed the gap to 62-56 on a Hunter lay-up.

After an Oostende timeout, guard Darrel Mitchell, who had missed Game 2 because of an injury but returned to the Oostende squad for the decider, scored on a drive and drew a foul.

He sank the free-throw to take the advantage back to nine.

Ventspils once more reduced the arrears to six when Hunter drilled a three-ball to make it 67-61.

The Latvians fouled Mitchell, who split a pair of free-throws and Ventspils star Oritseweyinmi Efejuku dunked to make it a five-point game.

Green replied with a slam at the other end and finished with a game-high 20 points as Oostende held on to progress.