Eurocup. Benetton Basket — BC Khimki 2 december 2008

Benetton Treviso moved to the top spot in Group C by topping Khimki Moscow Region 77-59 on Tuesday. Jorge Garbajosa paced Khimki with 11 points and 10 rebounds against his former team. Mike Wilkinson scored 12 for Khimki, Maciej Lampe added 11 and Carlos Delfino 10.

Khmiki started strong winning the opening tip and scoring on its first possession through Wilkinson. Garbajosa showed he sill felt at home in Treviso with a three on the next trip downcourt and soon a Kelly McCarty basket and a Wilkinson layup completed a 0-9 start before Neal finally got the hosts on the scoreboard. Neal added another layup as Khumki cooled down and the game pace quieted. Garbajosa hit from downtown again, but back-to-back threes from Judson Wallace and Neal narrowed the gap and Rancik soon added a basket to complete a 10-2 run that tied the game at 16-16. After McCarty made a free throw, Neal gave Benetton its first lead to end the period at 18-17. Khimki surged back ahead as Delfino and Lampe combined for 8 unanswered points early in the second period. Neal helped jumpstart the Treviso attack and Dixon hit a three and scored in transition as the hosts regained the lead. Rancik and Neal completed a 13-2 charge that gave Benetton a 32-27 lead. An Andrea Renzi triple increased the lead to 7 with a three. Delfino scored from downtown to make it 35-31 by halftime.

Milt Palacio scored hit only basket of the game to cut the gap to 2, but Nicevic and Neal pushed the lead up to 39-33. Lampe scored inside, but Benetton was set to take over. Neal scored a three-point play and Dixon added a pair of baskets in a 9-0 run as Benetton made it 48-35. Wallace would soon increase the lead to 16. Wilkinson helped Khimki get back to 11 before a Neal free throw made it 56-44 heading into the fourth quarter. A pair of Vitaly Frizdon free throws brought Khimki within 10 as the last period got underway. But a Dashaun Wood triple kept Benetton in control. Wilkinson scored twice, however a Domen Lorbek three made it 64-50. Lorbek would add 3 more free throws and Nicevic scored twice as the lead reached 71-54, allowing the home fans to celebrate a big win before the final buzzer.

Tuesday, December 02, 2008
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