EUROCHALLENGE

Julius Jenkins was key for EWE Baskets, contributing 22 points

EWE Baskets Oldenburg have avoided paying the price for some late complacency, sneaking home over guests Khimik, 82-74, in game of their EuroChallenge quarter-final play-off series.

A tensely fought duel unravelled over the first 20 minutes in Oldenburg with EWE Baskets and Khimik trading the lead on nine occasions and tying it on a further six occasions.

The first real break of the game went in the favour of the hosts in the run up to half-time with EWE Baskets allowed to score the last five points of the frame to hold a six-point lead at the buzzer.

The break failed to help Khimik regain their composure, and incidentally, failed to stop the hot hands of the hosts with a Julius Jenkins' three putting the Germans up by nine, 47-36, early in the third quarter.

Despite a time-out in response to the three, Khimik failed to regroup as EWE Baskets continued to race ahead on some inspired shooting from Chris Kramer who had the home-side up 63-49 with his 11th point of the night late in the third quarter.

Leading by 13 with a frame to play, it appeared the minds of the Oldenburg players were already concerning themselves with other affairs as Khimik snuck back up to be within four points on a Willie Deane jump shot with just over a minute to play.

However, cool heads prevailed for the Germans as Kramer and Jenkins confirmed the win by both making a late pair from the charity stripe.

Jenkins ended with a game-high 23 points on perfect three-for-three downtown shooting whilst Kramer made five assists to go with 15 points.

Deane was the best of the guests with 19 points.