21.11.2006

Kalev Sink Kyiv

BC Kalev clinched their first EuroCup Group E victory on Tuesday when they saw off BC Kyiv 75-64.

		Travis Reed had a season-high 37 points for BC Kalev

The Estonian outfit, who lost their opening match by the same scoreline at home to Liege Basket last Tuesday, stormed into a 22-10 lead by the end of first quarter and never relinquished their advantage.

The visitors reduced the gap to seven points at 34-27 with 1.20 to go before half-time, but could not make any further inroads thereafter.

Kalev were 59-41 up with less than nine minutes remaining and, although Kyiv battled hard, they could not claw back the deficit.

American Travis Reed poured in a game-high 37 points for the winners, while his countryman LaMarr Greer was Kyiv's leading scorer with 18 points.

BC Kalev small forward Erik Dorbek believes it was down to good organisation and a positive attitude.

"We played good and aggressive defense and were well organised in offense," he said.

"We limited our turnovers and that was the key."

Kalev head coach Veselin Matic said: "We started in a very difficult position without two of our main players.

"But we controlled the game with defence and rebounding. We got most of our points inside."

Kyiv head coach Victor Berezhnoi was left to rue his side's poor rebounding in an overall below-par display.

"We played in slow motion," he admitted. "We gave up too many shots underneath the basket. Rebounding was weak."

Kyiv center Grygorii Khizhniak agreed: "We got beat underneath the basket and with rebounding. It wasn't a good game."

Kalev complete their Group E programme next month with trips to Liege and Kiev.