High-flying Aris Thessaloniki held off EuroCup quarter-finalists Panionios in Greek top flight action on Saturday, winning 80-70 to keep the pressure on leaders Panathinaikos.

Aris only led 27-26 midway through the second quarter when they went on an 8-0 run.

The hosts stayed in front the rest of the way, although Panionios did keep the game close until the end.

The visitors reeled off seven consecutive points to close to 54-51 near the end of the third quarter, Efstratios Perperoglou's two free throws capping the spurt.

After Terrell Castle's basket took the lead back to five for Aris, Damir Miljkovic's two shots from the stripe again cut the deficit to three but Luca Pavicevic's men would get no closer as Aris prevailed for the 14th time in 18 league games.

Panionios, who take on Akasvayu Girona in the last eight of the EuroCup, are now 11-7 in Greece.

Vladislav Dragojlovic and Andre Hutson each had 14 points in a losing cause.