EUROCHALLENGE

Okapi Aalstar's Christopher Copeland was simply unstoppable, leading the Belgian side to victory with 33 points on 73.3 percent shooting from the floor

Okapi Aalstar survived in an 86-84 thriller in Belgium on Tuesday night against Szolnoki Olaj to keep their hopes of playing in the EuroChallenge Quarter-Finals alive.

The result has left both sides with 2-3 records in Group J of the Last 16.

The visitors from Hungary, after trailing by 11 points in the first half, battled back and took an 84-83 lead when Hristo Nikolov drilled a three-pointer with 39 seconds to play.

Christopher Copeland, who had a game-high 33 points for Aalstar, answered with a go-ahead jump shot with 19 seconds remaining.

After a Szolnoki timeout, Akos Horvath attempted a three-pointer but missed and the Hungarians then had to foul and put Copeland on the line.

He made the first but missed the second, yet Aalstar held on for a two-point triumph.

Nikolov had 24 points in defeat for Szolnoki, who were 12 of 31 from long range.

They were just six of 12 at the free-throw line compared to 22 of 27 for the hosts.