UTENA (Basketball Champions League) - AS Monaco turned back a valiant effort by Juventus Utena on Wednesday night to remain unbeaten in the Basketball Champions League.

Amara Sy poured in 21 points and Monaco, who hit 10 of 27 shots from deep and 18 of 23 at the free-throw line, prevailed 92-85.

The home side, which had clawed back an early 11-point deficit, knotted the game at 72-72 early in the fourth quarter after a baseline jump shot from Maksym Korniyenko.

An Aaron Craft lay-up sparked a 10-0 Monaco run, however, that put the visitors in front to stay.

LaRon Dendy, who had a game-high 23 points and some sensational dunks, did his best to bring Juventus back. He hit a 3-pointer and was then fouled while attempting another and connected on all three free-throws to close the gap to 82-78.

Dendy also added a couple of late baskets off alley-oop passes to keep his team within striking distance, but Monaco held on.

Veteran power forward Georgi Joseph was worth his weight in gold for Monaco due to his work on the offensive boards. Joseph finished with seven rebounds, four of them crucial ones on the offensive glass.

Monaco had the better start to the game with captain Sy pouring in 8 points and helping them open up a 13-2 lead with 6:53 to go in the first quarter.

The entry of Dendy and Karolis Guscikas brought some inspiration to the floor for the home side, though. Dendy finished the first quarter with his second dunk and Juventus Utena trailed only 28-23.

Sergi Gladyr, who hit 9 of 10 shots from long range in Monaco's weekend win over Dijon, and Gerald Robinson both got hot from deep. Gladyr connected on three shots from long range and Robinson two, but the hosts' determined effort on defense, and on the boards, got them some second chance points.

They also capitalized on numerous trips to the free-throw line, making 17 of 18 (94.44 percent).

A 3-point play by Jonte Flowers put them in front, 47-45, only for Monaco to take a 48-47 lead with a Sy baseline jumper right before half-time.

Monaco are now 8-0 and three games ahead of both EWE Baskets and Pinar Karsiyaka and four in front of Dinamo Sassari (4-4) while Juventus Utena are rooted at the bottom of the standings at 2-6, the same record as UNET Holon and Enisey Krasnoyarsk.

The Juventus Utena crowd left disappointed with the result, but not by the spectacle. There were plenty of big plays in the game, including numerous slam dunks.

One was thrown down by Monaco's Christopher Evans (see above).