Cholet beat Group D winners Barons Riga 80-78 in the final game of the EuroCup Qualifying Round.

In an amazing finish by the home side, Cholet scored the last nine points of the game.

The visitors from Latvia had already secured their passage to the next phase of the competition but they

Claude Marquis had 15 points in Cholet's come-from-behind win.

looked good bets to claim a fifth win late.

Cholet, who failed to advance with just two wins in six games, could hardly have asked for a better way to go out of the EuroCup.

Trailing 78-71 with just under three minutes remaining following a pair of free throws by Barons' Demetrius Alexander, Cholet responded in style.

Nando De Colo hit a three-pointer and followed that up with two shots at the charity stripe to make it 78-76.

Cholet's Claude Marquis tied the game with a jump shot, and then Steed Tchicamboud followed with a game-winning jumper just two seconds from the end.

De Colo finished with a game-high 37 points for Cholet, making all three of his shots from long range and sinking 12 of 12 at the line.

For Barons, Latvia international Armands Skele scored 17 points, handed out five assists and pulled down five rebounds.

Erman KUNTER, Cholet Basket Coach-

"This victory is important. Riga is the strongest team in the group. We played very well in the second quarter but all in the game was not good. A win in Eurocup is important for the mental state of my team. Riga was strong. Kracenko scored four of five on three-points. We turn the EuroCup page, we have to think about French championship now."

Nando DE COLO, Cholet Basket-

"I felt good in the game. I had some chances to score. The victory tonight is very important for the team, now we can think about the French championship and our game against Strasbourg on Friday."

Karlis MUIZNIEKS Barons LMT Riga Coach-

"We lost the game but we are first in the group. We came here to win but it was impossible to win against Cholet tonight. Sunday we have played in our championship and then we took a plane Monday to come here. Maybe my players were tired tonight. Claude Marquis and Nando De Colo played very well tonight."