The Artland Dragons outlasted BC Kyiv 71-69 to advance to the ULEB Cup Last 32. Terrance Thomas and John Goldsberry were perfect from the line down the stretch to give the Dragons a clutch victory and a 5-5 record, good for the last available spot among the best fourth-place teams in the competition. The result also knocked Kyiv from first place in the group. Kyiv finished the regular season 7-3 and was surpassed for first by Benetton Treviso, which defeated ASK Riga. Adam Chubb contributed 14 points and 8 rebounds for Artland, while John Goldsberry and Darious Hall had 12 points apiece and Earl Rowland 11. Pooh Jeter led BC Kiyv with 14 points, Manuchar Markoishvili had 12 points and 6 rebounds, Marko Maravic and Josh Davis had 11 points apiece, and Jacob Jaacks grabbed 10 boards.

Davis opened the night scoring from beyond the arc, but Artland answered with a 7-0 run capped by a Jan Rohdewald three-pointer. Chubb gave a 13-5 cushion to the hosts with a three-point play. Leon Rodgers extended the difference to 18-9 and then Hall gave the hosts’ their first double-digit margin. Artur Drozdov kept Kyiv within 22-13 after 10 minutes. Chubb raised the margin to 27-20 from the foul line, but the answer from Maravic was immediate. He scored from downtown and hit another from mid range to get within 27-25. Maravic soon tied it from the free throw line at 29-29. Viacheslav Kravstov gave the second lead of the night to Kyiv on 29-31, but then Davis scored to make it 34-35 at halftime. Markoishvili converted a three-point-play to open the third quarter and give to Kyiv a 34-38 margin, but Chubb nailed four consecutive to tie it. Davis gave a 38-42 cushion to Kyiv, but the hosts made a 5-0 run to regain the lead. Markohisvili remained hot for Kyiv, but Thomas and Hall boosted Artland to 54-48, while Maravic scored from downtown to get to 54-51 after 30 minutes. Kravtsov again put Kyiv ahead, 54-55, Goldsberry from long distance made it 61-57 for Artland, then Jeter found easy points to make it 63-61 with two minutes left. Entering the last minute, Markoishvili put the guests within 65-64. Goldsberry and Jeter scored 2 to go on 67-66. Then Hall conquered an offensive board to score and put Artland in front 69-66. The final was a big thriller: Jeter scored 2 from the foul line, Thomas did the same to make it 71-68 and then Jeter missed 1 of his last 2 as the Dragons celebrated their win.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
ULEBcup.com