EuroCup Top 16: Gran Canaria off the mark
A quiet opening to Round 3 of the EuroCup Top 16 saw just two games from eight that will happen this week. However, the two contests proved to be important as they allowed clubs to get their Top 16 win rates underway. Gran Canaria finally clicked on the continent in 2017 with a win over Murcia in an all-Spanish clash. Elsewhere, Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius demolished Nizhny Novgorod on the road.
Round 3 of the EuroCup Top 16 will be completed on Wednesday with a further six games.
Herbalife Gran Canaria las Palmas vs. UCAM Murcia, 94-85
Gran Canaria put together a fine offensive display to defeat fellow Spanish club UCAM Murcia. However, the club needed scoring prowess to pass a Murcia team that kept pace for large periods of the game. With this victory, Gran Canaria recorded its first win of the EuroCup Top 16 and moved to 1-2 alongside Murcia. The hosts drained an impressive 56 points during the first half to boast a commanding 56-37 lead at the long break. Murcia got within touching distance with 31 points in the third act, but the visitors could not carry the momentum into the fourth.
Kyle Kuric paced the win with 18 points, while Richard Hendrix added 13 points and 8 rebounds. Royce Oneale secured 11 points for Gran Canaria, followed by Bo McCaleb and Eulis Baez with 10 points apiece.
Jose Angel Antelo topped Murcia with a game-high 19 points.
Nizhny Novgorod vs. Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius, 63-97
After an indifferent start to the Top 16, Lietuvos Rytas exploded and tore apart Nizhny Novgorod in its own backyard. The win saw the Lithuanian club move above Nizhny on head-to-head success, both clubs sitting on 1-2 records. The visitors started well and managed to stay a step ahead during the first half, winning the first quarter 21-22 and the second 15-24 for a cruising 36-46 lead at halftime. With a ten-point lead, Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius dominated the second half and romped to victory.
David Logan impressed with 30 points for the winning effort, while Rokas Giedraitis added 16 points.
Petr Gubanov drained 13 points to set the scoring tone for Nizhny Novgorod.