Crvena Zvezda's Joe Ragland (R) vies with Brescia's Luca Vitaly during the round 9 match at the regular season of 2018-2019 Eurocup basketball tournament between Crvena Zvezda and Brescia in Belgrade, Serbia on Dec. 12, 2018. Crvena Zvezda won 103-67. (Xinhua/Predrag Milosavljevic)
BELGRADE, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Serbian Red Star convincingly beat Brescia 103-67 here on Wednesday to seal its qualification to the Top 16 phase of the basketball Eurocup one round before the end of the regular season.
The match in Group A of the 9th round of the Eurocup at the Aleksandar Nikolic hall in front of some 4,700 fans started with two consecutive three pointers of the home team made by Borisa Simanic and Branko Lazic, while Joe Ragland expanded the lead to 10-4.
Red Star continued to pile up points to build the record 21 points in the first quarter, thanks to great game of Michael Ojo.
The second quarter started with a three-pointers of Dejan Davidovac and Nemanja Nenadic, while Ragland expanded the lead again to 45-20.
After a series of three-pointers of Lazic and Billy Baron, Red Star came 43 points in front at the half time.
Precise shooting continued in the second part, with Brescia rarely being able to answer. After a three pointer of Ragland the third quarter ended with 80-35.
In the fourth quarter Brescia finally managed to reduce the gap to less than 30 points, with Tommaso Laquintana and Bryon Allen as the leaders in the turnaround.
However, Red Star again created a 9-0 series and separated to the final 39 points.
Best in the ranks of Red Star were Ragland with 16 points and 10 assists and Lazic with 14 points. In the ranks of Brescia Allen scored 17 points.
Red Star will play the next game against Galatasaray in Turkey, while Brescia will host Ulm in Italy.
As Monaco defeated Galatasaray tonight 76-71, Red Star sealed its participation in the Top 16 phase together with Monaco and Andorra disregarding of the outcome of the next match.
