Telestet Maroussi have led from the front all season in Greece and that’s how it’s going to stay through to Christmas after a virtuoso performance from Andre Hutson against Ionikos on Saturday.

Having had their armour dented last week - the FIBA Europe League side suffered their first HEBA Championship defeat at Iraklis - Telestet got back to winning ways with former Michigan State star Hutson scoring 29 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in a 77-73 overtime win.

An upset looked to be on the cards in the first quarter with Ionikos jumping out to a 24-14 lead after Apostolos Koutroulias’ basket at the end of the first quarter, but Telestet reasserted themselves immediately, going on a 9-0 run to close the gap to 24-23, and the contest remained tight the rest of the way.

Hutson scored eight of the home side’s last 10 points in regulation time and would have been the hero if they’d been able to put the game away, but Justin Hamilton’s basket at the buzzer tie the contest at 62-62 and sent the game to the extra period.

The Hutson show then saw Telestet home. He scored and was fouled at the start of overtime and made the free throw for a three-point lead.

Hamilton answered with a basket at the other end, but Hutson scored six of his side’s next eight points to keep them in front, and Roderick Blakney and Ivan Grgat then made a total of four free throws in the waning seconds to seal the triumph.

Hutson has been sensational all season. In the FIBA Europe League, he has averaged almost 16 points a game.

In other games on Saturday, Aris beat Iraklio 103-90, Ilisiakos lost at home to Peristeri 73-65 and Panionios won 81-74 at PAOK.