Free-Throws Give Pardubice Victory

Sealed the road win on the line for Pardubice: Corey Muirhead

A pair of free-throws by Corey Muirhead just one second before the end lifted BK Pardubice to a 77-76 victory at BC Goverla in EuroChallenge Group C on Tuesday night.

Hoping to punch their ticket to the Last 16, the Czech team celebrated the victory after Dante Swanson's desperation heave was off target.

By winning, Pardubice improved to 4-2 in Group C.

If Chorale Roanne Basket defeat visiting BK Prostejov in their game on Tuesday, Pardubice will be in the next round.

Should Prostejov win to leave all three sides with 4-2 records, then a goal differential tie-breaker in the games played between the sides would be used to determine the order of finish.

Only the top two sides in Group C will advance to the next round.

That BC Goverla lost another close game is fitting because their EuroChallenge campaign was marred by one narrow setback after another.

Prostejov beat them in their first game with a three-ball at the buzzer.

The side from Ukraine also had three-point defeats in their following two games.

They almost gave their fans a taste of victory on Tuesday.

Kevin Tiggs' lay-up with 29 seconds left in the third quarter gave Goverla a 63-53 advantage.

The visitors battled back, however, and tied it at 63-63 on two Muirhead free-throws.

Despite trailing again by four after Brian Greene's shot from long range with 3:56 to play for Goverla, Pardubice battled back.

Petr Bohacik had a three-point play and after Greene made just one of two free-throws, Maurice Hampton buried a three for a 71-70 Pardubice advantage.

After Goverla's Erik Coleman and Hampton exchanged baskets, the latter hit a jumper for a three-point Pardubice advantage.

Goverla's Yaroslav Lemyk made a lay-up and drew a foul on the play.

He missed the free-throw, but after a Hampton miss, Goverla got the ball back and Tiggs drew a foul from Muirhead and sank both attempts at the line with three seconds to play.

Pardubice called a timeout, got the ball to Muirhead when play started again and he drew a foul by Coleman.

Muirhead sank both free-throws to win the game.

Pardubice finished 18 of 21 at the stripe.

They helped their cause by out-rebounding Goverla, 36-20.

Marcus Arnold finished with 24 points and eight rebounds for the winners.

Marcus Walker had 17 points and Greene 16 for Goverla.

Quotes BC Goverla vs. BK Pardubice

Pardubice Player Maurice Hampton:
"It was a very exciting game, very high up-tempo, fast game. I want to give credit to Goverla, because they were aggressive, they made a lot of shots. We were able to stay calm and come up with the win."

Pardubice head coach Jan Slowiak:
"We were lucky in the end of the game. Because it was a really tough game. I must congratulate my opponents, they played with a big effort to win. Goverla have a solid team. My players showed a solid effort to win too. We played better and better in each quarter. But we made a lot of unnecessary turnovers and it was a big problem for us."

Goverla player Kevin Tiggs:
"It was tough. We wanted to win, came with this thing on court, and play hard for it. But it was not enough luck in the end of the game."

Goverla coach Andriy Kremez:
"Today we started very well, defended well, did not make a lot of mistakes. But then we lost concentration in certain moments. But the main reason for the defeat - rebounds. We allowed the opponent to take 15 rebounds on our glass, which means to give the opponent a second opportunity to attack the ring. We also missed many points in the paint."