The Czech Republic moved closer to securing their EuroBasket Division A status for another two years by thrashing Estonia 80-54 on Friday night. 

Ladislav Sokolovsky and Petr Benda scored 20 points apiece as the Czechs improved to 3-1 in the Relegation Round while dropping Estonia to 1-3.

Estonia had won the first encounter between the sides 69-65 back on August 5 in Tallinn.

Playing at home this time, the Czech Republic broke open a close game at the end of the first half.

Leading 28-27 with 4:11 remaining in the second quarter, Benda hit a jump shot to take his points haul to 30-27 and spark a 13-0 Czech run to finish the quarter.

At the start of the second half, Jan Vesely dunked and Sokolovsky drilled back-to-back three-balls as the Czechs extended the run to 21 points for a 49-27 stranglehold on the contest.

They enjoyed a double-digit lead the rest of the way.

Estonia were 13 of 37 inside the arc compared to 21 of 43 for the Czechs.

The Baltic side made just two of 18 shots from long range while the Czechs were seven of 12.

The top two sides in the Relegation Round will stay in Division A.

Ukraine also beat Hungary on Friday to leave both sides with 2-2 records.