NYMBURK (Basketball Champions League) - Dinamo Sassari somehow, some way, found a way to live and fight another day in the Basketball Champions League on Tuesday night.

The Sardinian team, which lost to EA7 Emporio Armani Milano in the Final of the Coppa Italia on Sunday and was playing its fourth game in five days, lost the second leg of its Play-Off Qualifier at CEZ Nymburk, 84-63.

But that was good enough for a one-point win on aggregate, with the Italian outfit having prevailed in the opening leg two weeks ago at home, 94-72.

"It was clear that we absolutely didn't have any energy," Dinamo Sassari coach Federico Pasquini said. "It was our fourth game in five days. We were tired. Tonight was a team that had 50 percent of the energy as usual." 

Sassari were outscored decisively in the first three quarters of the second meeting and trailed by as many as 31 points - nine on aggregate - when Nymburk's Howard Sant-Roos made two free-throws with 2:58 remaining, yet an incredible finish saw them advance to a Round of 16 meeting against Le Mans.

With 1:12 to go, Nymburk's Bryon Allen scored to give the hosts an 81-52 lead and a seven-point aggregate advantage.

Trevor Lacey answered with a 3-pointer, though, and the comeback in the tie was on.

Tau Lydeka grabbed an offensive rebound off a Lacey miss and was fouled and made one of two free-throws to make it 81-56 in the game and cut Nymburk's aggregate lead to three points.

After a pair of Bryon Allen free-throws for Nymburk, Dinamo Sassari got a 3-pointer from David Bell to make it 83-59 and leave the Italian club down by just two in the tie.

Bell then fouled Sant-Roos, a good free-throw shooter, and he missed the first of two attempts at the line but made the second for a 3-point lead on aggregate.

Ronen Ginzburg, the Nymburk coach, gave the order from the bench to commit the foul so Sassari could not attempt a potential tie-tying 3-pointer and Allen obliged, putting Lacey on the stripe with 11 seconds remaining. Lacey made both attempts to leave the Czech outfit with a one-point advantage over the two legs.

Nymburk then shot themselves in the foot as Sant-Roos's inbounds pass went out of bounds, giving the ball back to Sassari.

The visitors passed to Dusko Savanovic on the right and the Serbia international got a step on Petr Benda as he drove to the basket and drew a foul to earn a trip to the line.

The veteran forward made both attempts to give Sassari a one-point lead on aggregate. Nymburk still had a chance.

Sant-Roos dribbled the ball the length of the floor and got a good look on a lay-up attempt but missed the shot that would have won the tie as time expired.

Sant-Roos fell to the floor in disbelief, his head in his hands, while Sassari's players gathered on the hardwood to celebrate.

Pasquini saluted his squad for not giving up.

"I have to say thanks to the players because with 1:30 to play, we were out of this competition," Pasquini said. "They didn't have any energy in their bodies and they played fantastic defense and attacked with the last energy they had."

Nymburk coach Ronen Ginzurg and his players were stunned. Diamon Simpson, who had a terrific game with 18 points and 12 rebounds, could hardly believe his team had come all the way back to lead the tie by nine points, only to lose by one on aggregate. The fact that his team had won the second leg 84-63 was of no consolation.

"That was probably the saddest win I've ever been a part of," the center said. "On the court, we felt like we had it. Everybody was happy.

"It was just right there (holding up his hand) and it seems unreal. We did win by 20 (actually 21) but it still hurts."

Ginzburg talked about the setback.

"I think we were really close to making big, big news in Europe and we made some mistakes in the last two minutes," he said. "When you come to this type of game and make mistakes against this kind of team, you will pay the price.

"But I want to say that I'm proud. We showed we have a great team and it was a great atmosphere. To be up 30, 31 against Sassari, who will for sure finish in the top four in Italy, it's only respect to the players.

"This game we will remember, me as the coach and the players. Of course over time, we'll laugh about it."