EUROBASKET QUALIFIERS

Forward Tornike Shengelia registered a double-double in points and rebounds to lead Georgia to an important road win

Georgia remain on course for a spot at the EuroBasket next summer by going back to the top of Qualification Round Group D after Tornike Shengelia showed his quality in a 91-74 win in Romania.

Shengelia was the pick of an impressive number of fine Georgian performances as he completed a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds to manouvere his team into a strong position and to the verge of booking successive Final Round appearances.

Georgia never looked like they would falter after leading Romania from tip to buzzer, always managing to hold their opponent at arm's length and managing to pull away any time the home side threatened a period of rejuvenation.

Having built a double-figure lead at 42-31, Georgia witnessed their supremacy threatened when Romania finished their scoring in the first-half with a quick-fire eight points only for Manuchar Markoishvilli to convert from behind the three-point line to once again slow down the hosts' momentum.

That became a familiar pattern during the second half as Georgia kept Romania at bay to ease their way to the win and take one step nearer their target of making it to Slovenia.

George Tsintadze dished up eight assists for Georgia whilst Rares Mandache had 22 points for the losing team.