JOENSUU (Basketball Champions League) - Pinar Karsiyaka sealed third place in Group B with an 83-73 win over Kataja Basket on Tuesday evening.

Despite a heroic effort from the Finnish side that saw them go on a run that tied it up at 64 with 6:29 to play, from there Pinar turned up the heat, going on a 7-0 run of their own and creating enough of a cushion to be able to seal the victory.

Karsiyaka's Muhammed Baygul had his best performance of the Basketball Champions League season so far, finishing with 25 points on 8 of 12 shooting, whilst J'Covan Marquis Brown had 15 and Mike Green 13.

"We knew that it would be a tough game," Baygul said. "They're a tough team and play with a high tempo but I think we are the better team and we showed it today." 

Pinar Karsiyaka Head Coach Nenad Markovic added:

"Tonight, except for the opening of the game - which we opened really really bad - and the opening of the second half, again same thing; without energy, without concentration, rest of the game I think we were good enough to win. We prepared for the game very seriously as we respect the Kataja team and I think they did a very good job up to now."

It was the home side who got the better of the opening stages, building a solid lead at points in the opening quarter and appearing in control. However, the second period was all Pinar, as they outscored Kataja by 14, holding them to just 9 points in the period.

Kataja's Daniel Mullings ended his campaign with 27 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals, and Rion Brown put up 24 points by hitting five three-pointers, but it wasn't enough as Kataja are out of the Play-offs.

"Tough game," Mullings said. "Started out well, we were kinda up and down, but I think they took advantage in the second quarter and we dug ourselves in hole."