One guy who did impress Sixers coach Mo Cheeks during Thursday night's 104-99 loss to Winterthur FC Barcelona was free agent rookie Ivan McFarlin, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

"Ivan McFarlin encouraged me, the way he stepped out on the floor and played with energy," Cheeks said after practice at Palau Sant Jordi Annex.

It was a good game for McFarlin, a 6-foot-8, 235-pound free-agent rookie forward who played in France last season. In about 121/2 minutes of playing time, he scored six points and grabbed four rebounds, and made coaches, teammates and opponents take notice with his hustle.

For a guy striving to make his first NBA team, it was a good first step.

"I feel it helped my chances to make the team, but it's just one game and there are many more to come," McFarlin said. "So I just have to play hard and play like I've been playing and hopefully I can make the team."