EUROCHALLENGE

Tomaz Bolcina and KRKA are alive and kicking in the EuroChallenge after beating Etha for the second time

KRKA Novo Mesto ended the last 16 hopes of Michelin ETHA Engomi in the EuroChallenge as they kept their own very much alive with a 74-59 road win.

Edo Muric led the way with 19 points while Smiljan Pavic collected 16 and 10 rebounds in a contest that was as good as over by the end of the first quarter.

ETHA have struggled offensively all season and after they slipped into a 25-11 hole as early as the ninth minute of the contest, there never seemed like there would be a way back.

It was a three-pointer from Pajic that gave KRKA that 14-point advantage, and it only continued to grow as the game went on.

The lead reached 19 early in the third quarter when a three-pointer from Jakov Vladovic put the visitors up 53-34.

Uros Lucic added 11 points for KRKA.

Donte Poole led ETHA with 13 points while Dejan Cup had 12 and Taron Downey added 11.