CSKA Moscow won the big showdown in Group G by downing AXA FC Barcelona 72-55 in the Russian capital.

CSKA now top Group G with a 2-0 record while Barcelona drop to 1-1.

Barcelona got to within five points of the hosts with ten minutes remaining thanks to rapid-fire three-pointers by Ersan Ilyasova, Pepe Sanchez and Roger Grimau, but CSKA's superb defence saw them pull clear.

David Andersen led the scoring for the Russian side with 20 points and 8 rebounds, while Ramunas Siskauskas added 16 points.

"This time we played better," said CSKA coach Ettore Messina. "We found the rhythm, played good defense. Unfortunately we had poor shooting percentage, but we managed to find good opportunities to shoot."

Montepaschi Siena took a major step to reach the quarter-finals from Group D by edging Efes Pilsen 76-79 in overtime in Istanbul.

Bootsy Thornton sank an acrobatic jumper for a 76-79 Montepaschi lead with 18 seconds to go, with Ermal Kuqo and Drew Nicholas missing from downtown in the game's final possession.

"You have to shoot the ball to win the game and this is what we missed tonight," said Efes coach David Blatt. "If you can't shoot the ball, than you are in trouble."

Tau Ceramica took control of Group F, thrashing Fenerbahce Ulker 103-84 at the Fernando Buesa Arena in Vitoria.

Sergi Vidal and Zoran Planinic led seven scorers in double-figures for the winners, each with 14 points.

Panathinaikos registered its first win in Group D by edging Partizan Igokea 67-65 at the Athens Indoor Olympic Hall.

Mike Batiste had a key block on Milenko Tepic to win it for the Greens in the final 19.5 seconds.

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport