Keravnos will take just a two-point lead to Russia with them after edging CSK-VVS Samara 85-83 in the first game of the EuroCup Challenge final.

It was nip and tuck all the way, and the two sides were level going into the dying seconds before Patrick Lee made two free throws to give the hosts the advantage.

A strong performance in the first two quarters cemented the Cypriot club's place in the ECC Final, where they will meet Russian outfit Samara. Leading by 20 points from the first leg Keravnos never looked back running out winners by a margin of 5 points on the night.

Although Dnipro out-rebounded the home team and had the top scorer in Lithuanian Donatas Zavackas with 20 points, it was not enough as Keravnos had four players scoring in double figures to bring home the win.

Keravnos won the first game of their best-of-two series with a 72-67 triumph over BC Dnipro.

The Cyprus-based outfit took control of the game with a 13-2 first quarter run.