EUROBASKET QUALIFIERS

Bulgaria's frontcourt had no answer for Charles Davis, who finished with 30 points to lead  Azerbaijan to their second victory in as many games in the Qualification Round

Azerbaijan made it two wins out of two in their EuroBasket qualifying campaign as they powered out of the blocks to beat Bulgaria 88-73.

Charles Davis poured in 30 points to lead five Azerbaijan players in double figures in a dominant performance.

The hosts raced into an early 18-6 lead on two free throws from Davis, and led 26-14 at the end of the first quarter after Rasim Bashak nailed a late three-pointer.

The advantage only continued to grow after the break, with a jump-shot from Fuad Niftaliyev making it 42-25 midway through the period and a dunk from Davis capping an 8-0 spurt that made it 50-29 with 62 ticks left in the half.

There was no way back from there for Bulgaria, even as they finished the game as the stronger team.

They chipped away at the lead in the fourth quarter as they found their range from three-point land, and a bomb from Bozhidar Avramov made it 84-71 with 1:14 to go.

Orhan Haciyeva had 16 points and 15 rebounds for Azerbaijan, while Niftaliyev added 15 points, Bashak 13 and Zaur Pashayev 12.

Avramov had 16 points and Aleksandr Georgiev 14  for Bulgaria, with Nikolay Varbanov adding 10.

Bulgaria drop to 1-1 after the opening win over Sweden.