CSK-VVS Samara blew out PAOK 80-61 on Tuesday to stay in the hunt for first place in Group A of the EuroCup Qualifying Round.

Already assured of progressing, the Russians will now be hoping that Tartu Rock slip up in their last game against Lappeenranta, which would allow the Samara outfit to take top spot of the group heading into the

Marque Perry had 15 points for Samara in the win.

Quarter Final Round.

Alex Scales had 17 points, Sergey Demeshkin 16 and Marque Perry 15 for Samara, who won for the fifth time in six games.

A Demeshkin three-pointer gave the Samara team a 17-16 lead in the first quarter and it went on to enjoy a 12-point advantage three times before the half-time interval.

PAOK, who have had a turbulent season after parting with coach Tab Baldwin and bringing former boss Kostas Flevarakis back to the team, managed to claw their way back to 37-30 but when to the changing rooms trailing 41-30.

Samara got a three-ball from Scales to start the second half in style, but PAOK did their best to keep it close and managed to close the gap to 52-46 on a shot from behind the arc  Dimitrios Verginis with under four minutes to go in the third period.

Demeshkin and Scales replied with consecutive three-pointers for Samara, though, to put the home side on its way to a big win.

The Samara club was out-rebounded 39-34, but it shot 12 of 25 from long range and was 16 of 22 at the line.

PAOK were just six of 25 from three-point range and nine of 13 at the stripe.