OLDENBURG (Basketball Champions League) - AS Monaco got a hard fought 84-78 victory over EWE Baskets Oldenburg to keep on marching in the Basketball Champions League on Wednesday evening.

The win improved the French side to 12-0 in the competition on the season, the only undefeated team that remains in the Basketball Champions League.

However, Oldenburg might have given them their toughest test yet, as Monaco trailed with six minutes remaining only to reel off a 9-0 run to seal the outcome.

Paul Lacombe had 15 of his team-high 20 points in the first half, and added 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, Christopher Evans had 18, whilst Elmedin Kikanovic joined them in double figures with 12, as Monaco overcame the absence of Aaron Craft.

"We expected a tough game," AS Monaco Head Coach Zvezdan Mitrovic commented.

"We already have first place, so this game wasn't really important for us but the guys show really good character and interesting basketball tonight."

For Oldenburg, Rickey Paulding had a number of big dunks on his way to a game-high 23 points, with Mickey McConnell having 16 points and 7 assists.

Oldenburg dropped to 7-5 with the loss, but will still join AS Monaco in the round of 16.

An 10-0 run at the end of the first quarter punctuated by a Christopher Evans pump reverse dunk saw AS Monaco gain separation, leading 24-16 after the opening period behind 8 points from Evans. 

AS Monaco racked up 12 assists in the first half to hold on to a 44-35 at halftime, as Lacombe had 15 points. Paulding led Oldenburg with 11. 

The third quarter was all Oldenburg as they came out after the break reinvigorated, going on a 9-2 run to open the period and get right back into the game before taking the lead on a McConnell basket with 4:35 left in the quarter.

Things would remain close, as Gladyr went coast to coast to beat the third quarter buzzer and put Monaco back up, 61-60 heading into the final period.

With the score tied at 66 and 8:40 remaining, AS Monaco reeled off an 11-1 run, with threes from Evans, and Cooper to gain control and escape Germany with a win.