Köln led late in the third quarter, but watched Khimki go on a 16-1 surge spanning the third and fourth periods to pull away. Maciej Lampe led the way for the winners with 23 points — 15 in the first quarter — and 5 rebounds, while Dan Ewing added 18 points and 5 assists. Also helping out in the victory were 13 points each from Kelly McCarty and Clay Tucker, the later of which also chipped in 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Nikita Shabalkin added 10 points for Khimki. It was a whirlwind day for Köln, which just hours before the game had its German League license revoked for financial problems. But Köln apparently has saved itself and left everything it had on the court – playing without its best three players, Toby Bailey, Immanuel McElroy and Aleksandar Nadjfeji – sold to attempt to save the club. Milko Bjelica collected 28 points and 9 rebounds for the hosts while Derek Raivio had 14 points and 4 assists and Marko Keselj added 13 points and 5 rebounds in the loss.

Ewing gave Khimki the lead to start the game and Keselj evened it at 2-2. But Lampe took over early, scoring Khimki's next 11 points in sprinting ahead 4-13. Bjelica countered for Köln with 4 points before Tucker's triple pushed the advantage to 13-22. It was 21-30 after Shabalkin's next basket, but Raivio knocked down a jumper and Bjelica drained a three-pointer to make it 26-30. Bjelica opened the second quarter with a free throw and Köln evened the contest at 32-32 on a three-pointer by Keselj, with the hosts grabbing the lead 34-33 on Yassin Idbihi's basket. Lampe gave Khimki the lead back and Ewing scored 5 straight points to make it 34-40. Keselj's three-point play pulled Köln to within 39-42 but Tucker answered with a three-pointer and Ewing's foul shot made it 41-46 at the break.

Philipp Schwethelm's triple started the second half and Raivio's three was followed with a Bjelica basket – and a 49-48 Köln advantage. Bjelica and Raivio both knocked down long balls as Köln still led 55-52. Lampe scored back-to-back baskets only to have Davis Martens tally twice for Köln, which led 62-60 after another triple from Raivio. Ewing scored again and Vitaly Fridzon knocked down consecutive shots as Khimki led 63-66 after three quarters. Shabalkin scored two straight baskets to start the fourth quarter, and 2 foul shots and a three-pointer by Fridzon finished off a 1-16 surge spanning the quarters and a 63-76 advantage. Bjelica finally got Köln on the board in the fourth and a Keselj three cut the deficit to 68-76. But McCarty answered right back with a triple of his own. Bjelica again cut the margin to 10 points, but Mike Wilkinson's basket triggered a 2-11 closing run to put into serious doubt any chance for Köln in the return leg next week.

ULEBcup.com