Group A
EWE Baskets — Unics 72-89
Unics rallied past EWE Baskets at the start of the EuroCup regular season tonight. Marko Popovic (185-G-82, college: S.Idaho JC) came up with 23 points, 10 assists and 5 rebounds to lead the Kazan team to the initial win in Group A. Unics dominated this one right from the start. The visitors unloaded 27 points in the opening term to run away. They secured a confident 9-point advantage ten minutes into the encounter. Things looked dull for the hosts in the second period as well. Unics maintained the lead as they were up 47:37 at halftime. Unics stayed aggressive defensively in the third term. They limited EWE Baskets to 16 points in the quarter building a 12-point lead with one quarter remaining. Terrell Lyday (190-G-79, college: BYU) and Marko Popovic led Unics in the final term as they left no chance for Oldenburg clinching a comfortable win at the end. Terrell Lyday scored 16 points, grabbed 6 boards and issued 3 assists for Unics. Kelly McCarty (201-F-75, agency: Avi Zilberman, college: S.Mississippi) and Maciej Lampe (210-C-85) knocked down 14 points each in the win. Aron Baynes (208-C-86, college: Washington St.) and Rickey Paulding (196-G-82, agency: Pro One Sports, college: Missouri) responded with 17 points each for EWE Baskets. Louis Campbell (190-G-79, agency: Pro One Sports, college: Buffalo) had 10 points in defeat.

Banvit — Le Mans 78-70
Banvit ensured the winning start to their EuroCup campaign. They held off visiting Le Mans in Group A opener. Keith Simmons (196-G-85, agency: Interperformances, college: Holy Cross) knocked down 16 points and grabbed 9 rebounds to pace the hosts. Banvit overcame an awful start to the game to prove their strength in this one. Le Mans stormed into the encounter as they grabbed a 16:6 lead early on. But Banvit soon responded with a 14:0 run of their own to spur in front. The hosts grabbed the lead and maintained it well throughout the reminder of the first half. The Turkish team enjoyed a 37:30 halftime advantage. Keith Simmons and Mutlu Akpinar (203-C/F-83) helped Banvit to a 10-point lead early in the third stanza. The home side stayed in charge as they posted a 56:49 lead at the final break. Le Mans was not about to surrender that easily. Joao Paulo Batista (207-F/C-81, college: Gonzaga) and Acker brought the visitors within just four points late in regulation but Ermis connected from beyond the arc and Banvit ran away with the debut victory. Vladimir Golubovic (213-C-86) added 14 points and 9 rebounds for Banvit. Charles Davis (202-F-84, college: Alabama) and Mutlu Akpinar contributed 12 points each in the victory. Joao Paulo Batista responded with 20 points and 10 rebounds for Le Mans.Antoine Diot (191-G-89) provided 12 points in the losing effort.

Group B
ASVEL — Goettingen 80-88
Goettingen executed well en route to the road win over ASVEL. The victory gave Goettingen 1-0 record in EuroCup Group B. The German side went on a 9:0 run early in the game to pile a 12:3 advantage. Goettingen eventually fired 28 points in the first quarter to ensure a comfortable 13-point cushion heading into the second stanza. Goettingen stretched the gap to 15 points in the second term 40:25. But ASVEL stopped the rot. Matt Walsh (197-F/G-82, college: Florida) organized an 11:0 run to narrow the gap to just four points 36:40 at halftime. Goettingen quickly regained the safe distance from the hosts in the third term. They increased the tempo and cleared off to a 68:57 advantage at the final intermission. Davon Jefferson (203-F-86, college: USC) did not give up as he dragged ASVEL as close as five points in the fourth stanza. However the German side did not panic and rolled to the victory at the end. Dwayne Anderson (198-F-86, agency: Interperformances, college: Villanova) unleashed 20 points to lead the visitors. Trenton Meacham (188-G-85, agency: Warren Sports International, college: Illinois) added 15 points for Goettingen. Matt Walsh answered with game-high 30 points for ASVEL. Davon Jefferson had 16 points in the loss.

Besiktas — Hemofarm 91-94
Allen Iverson (184-G-75, college: Georgetown) debuted for Besiktas in EuroCup but could not prevent his new team from falling to Hemofarm. The Serbian team rallied from a 17-point deficit in the final quarter to stun the ambitous hosts. Milan Macvan (205-F-89) came up with 17 points and 15 rebounds to ensure the dreamy start for the Serbians. Besiktas entered the game strongly. They outplayed the visitors everywhere in the court to enjoy a 24:14 lead ten minutes into the game. Allen Iverson, Erden and Ozer helped the hosts to a 39:25 lead midway through the second frame. Besiktas ensured a 44:35 lead at the interval. Krstovic and Milan Macvan led Hemofarm early in the third stanza as the visitors denied the deficit. Hemofarm drew things level at 60 before Besiktas managed to eke out a narrow 69:63 lead at the final intermission. Besiktas opened the fourth term on a 10:0 run to take a comfortable 79:63 advantage. Soon the hosts accumulated what seemed an unassailable lead 82:65. Hemofarm however responded quickly as they went on a desperate 16:3 run to cut the deficit. Allen Iverson completed a four-point play to keep Besiktas on top but it was not enough to tame the visitors. Hemofarm drained impossible five treys in the final two minutes of regulation to seal a terrific win for Hemofarm. Miljan Pavkovic (178-G-81, agency: Beo Basket) knocked down 16 points for Hemofarm. Mustafa Abdul-Hamid (188-G-88, college: UCLA) added 15 in the win. Andrew James Ogilvy (211-C-88, college: Vanderbilt) came up with 20 points and 12 rebounds for Besiktas. Serhat Cetin (197-G-86) and Allen Iverson accounted for 15 points each in the loss.

Group C
Siauliai — Buducnost 76-97
Buducnost showed their highest EuroCup ambitions as they opened the campaign with a resounding rout of Siauliai in Lithuania. Marko Simonovic (202-F-86, agency: Beo Basket) fired 23 points to lead the visitors to a confident win in Group C. Buducnost opened the game on a 6:0 run to set the tone. They actually never trailed in this one. Buducnost limited the hosts to 16 points in the opening frame and rolled to a 6-point lead at the first break. No relief was brought to Siauliai in the second period. Buducnost enlarged their advantage claiming a 43:34 advantage at halftime. The visitors went deadly on offense in the third quarter. They unloaded 32 points to grab an unassailable 20-point advantage with one quarter to go. Siauliai had no answers in their sleeve. Buducnost never loosen the grasp and cruised to the victory at the end. Marko Scekic (207-F-81) tallied 22 points and 11 rebounds for Buducnost. Gintaras Kadziulis (193-G-80) added 12 points for the winners. Ricky Harris (188-G-87, college: Massachusetts) was responsible for 15 points in defeat. Vytautas Sarakauskas (204-C-82) netted 14 points for Siauliai.

Group D
Cedevita — Galil Gilboa 83-92
Six players scored in double figures and Galil Gilboa took care of Cedevita in EuroCup opener for both teams. Jack McClinton (185-G-85, college: Miami (FL)) knocked down 18 points to ensure the debut win for Galil Gilboa in Group D. Cedevita led 6:2 early in the encounter but Galil Gilboa responded strongly. The Israeli team went on a 9:0 run to surge in front. Galil Gilboa grabbed a 22:17 advantage after ten minutes. Dagan Yavzuri (193-G-85) went deadly from beyond the arc in the second quarter. He drained three triples as Galil Gilboa opened up a double-digit advantage 41:29. They stayed in control building a 49:39 lead at the interval. Mekel ignited a 7:0 run from the visitors as they took a 59:44 advantage early in the third quarter. Cedevita were not done just yet as Edwards piloted an 11:2 rally that narrowed the deficit. Galil Gilboa headed into the final frame up by 6 points 67:61. Rodney Green restored a 10-point advantage for Galil Gilboa midway through the stanza and Cedevita found no way to bounce back from this. Dagan Yavzuri dropped 16 points for the Israeli team. Warren Carter (206-F-85, college: Illinois) and Tyler Wilkerson (203-F, college: Marshall) had 15 points each in the win. Hrvoje Kovacevic (191-G-86) finished with 16 points for Cedevita. Vedran Vukusic (206-F-82, college: Northwestern) nailed 15 points in the loss.

Aris — Azovmash 88-75
P.J. Tucker (198-F-85, college: Texas) poured in 28 points to lead Aris to the victory in EuroCup opener. The Greek powerhouse denied Azovmash in Thessaloniki for the first win in Group D. Aris opened the game with four points in a row to set the tone. The hosts quickly ran away for a 19:8 lead. Azovmash managed to pull within 7 points at the first break 16:23. Aris triggered a 10:3 run to take a 33:19 lead midway through the second period. The visitors replied with a 9:0 run of their own and after one half of action the scoreboard read 40:32 in favor of Aris. Fred House organized an 8:0 run from Azovmash as they knotted things up at the start of the second half. Tapoutos and P.J. Tucker immediately answered for Aris and soon the Greeks were back in the drivers seat 55:44. Azovmash did not surrender as they trailed by just 5 points with one quarter remaining. P.J. Tucker and Dejan Borovnjak (208-F-86, agency: Beo Basket) stepped up for Aris in the fourth stanza sealing the deal and sending Azovmash to 0-1 record. Dejan Borovnjak knocked down 17 points. Bryant Dunston (201-F/C-86) added 12 points in the victory. Ramel Curry (191-G-80, college: CSU Bakersfield) replied with 22 points for Azovmash. Demetrius Alexander (204-F/C-75, college: Alabama) accounted for 16 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists.

Group E
GasTerra — Galatasaray 65-66
Galatasaray came from behind in the final minutes of regulation to snatch a narrow road win over GasTerra Flames in Groningen. The teams played their opener in EuroCup Group E. Preston Shumpers knocked down five free-throws in the dying seconds to seal the winning outcome for the Turkish team. Matt Haryasz (210-C-84, college: Stanford) was the main man for GasTerra Flames in the opening quarter. He helped the Dutch team accumulate a 20:8 lead. Groningen stayed in charge and secured a 22:11 advantage after ten minutes. Otten and Roye fired from downtown early in the second frame as the margin grew at 17-point mark 30:13. Joshua Shipp stepped up for Galatasaray at this point stopping the rot and narrowing the distance at 9-point mark at halftime 34:43. Radoslav Rancik (207-F/C-79, agency: Beo Basket, college: St.Cloud St.) delivered 7 points in a 9:0 run from Galatasaray at the beginning of the second half. However Matt Haryasz and Jason Ellis quickly turned things the hosts way as Groningen grabbed a 52:44 lead at the final intermission. GasTerra Flames entered the final three minutes of the clash leading by 8 points 61:53. Radoslav Rancik narrowed the gap to only two points 61:59. Preston Shumpert (198-G-79, college: Syracuse) and Topaloglu followed with a bunch of free throws and all of a sudden it was Galatasaray who celebrated the victory. Radoslav Rancik accounted for 16 points and 7 rebounds to lead Galatasaray. Preston Shumpert added 15 points in the win. Steve Ross (201-G/F-80, agency: Court Side, college: Santa Clara) replied with 15 points and 7 rebounds for GasTerra Flames. Matt Haryasz delivered 12 points in the loss.

Bennet Cantu — Panellinios 72-57
Bennet Cantu outgunned Panellinios at home court to start the EuroCup campaign. Jonathan Tabu scored 17 points to lead the home team. Bennet Cantu spurred in front at the start of the game. They soon piled up a comfortable 15:6 lead but Panellinios replied. Mike Green (185-G-85, college: Butler) and Samo Udrih (195-G-79) dragged the visitors within just two points 13:15 late in the quarter. Cantu however sealed the first quarter outcome at 18:14. Samo Udrih and Andre Brown (205-F/C-81, agency: Priority Sports, college: De Paul) gave Panellinios their first lead of the game 22:21 midway through the second stanza. Jonathan Tabu crowned the half with a three-pointer as Cantu snatched a narrow 34:33 advantage. Samo Udrih, Ostojic and Derrick Byars came up for Panellinios in the third quarter. They helped the Hellenes earn a 45:39 lead. Michele Mian rescued Cantu as his consecutive triples restored a 52:48 lead for the home team. Jonathan Tabu and Ortner gave the hosts a 57:48 advantage at the start of the final quarter. The Italian team went on a 9:0 run moments later and never looked back en route to the win. Nicolas Mazzarino (181-G-75, agency: Players Group) chipped in 12 points for Cantu. Mike Green added 9 points in the victory. Samo Udrih replied with 15 points for Panellinios. Andre Brown provided 8 points in the losing effort.

Group F
Benetton TV — Roanne 67-61
Benetton Treviso overcame a sluggish start to outscore Roanne in the EuroCup regular season opener for both teams. Ryan Toolson (193-G-85, college: Utah Valley St.) knocked down 14 points to pace Benetton. The Italian side were down by as many as 15 points at halftime but found the way to recover. Roanne went on a 7:0 run early in the encounter to spur in front. Soon the visitors enjoyed a 20:10 advantage. Alex Gordon crowned the first period with a three-pointer as Roanne grabbed a 23:13 lead. Tanghe drained another triple to make it 26:13 for the visitors at the start of the second frame. Benetton however responded with five straight points to narrow the gap. Pape-Philippe Amagou (185-G-85) and Bogdanovic kept on scoring for Roanne as the French team secured a 37:22 cushion at the main break. Ryan Toolson, Devin Smith (196-G/F-81, college: Virginia) and Greg Brunner changed the complexion of the encounter in the second half. Benetton attacked aggressively and cut the deficit to just three points 38:41. Rivers kept Roanne on top as he gave the visitors a 49:44 lead at the final break. But Benetton were getting closer. Alessandro Gentile (198-G/F-92) fired from beyond the arc and Donatas Motiejunas (213-C-90, agency: Interperformances) added his points as Benetton all of a sudden took control at 61:56. Bulleri stretched the hosts lead to 8 points 64:56. And though Roanne narrowed the difference to just four points Benetton stayed calm and raced for the win at the end. Donatas Motiejunas and Alessandro Gentile knocked down 11 points each for Benetton. Devin Smith had 9 points in the win. Uche Nsonwu-Amadi (208-F/C-78, agency: Beo Basket, college: Wyoming) and Pape-Philippe Amagou replied with 13 points apiece for Roanne. Rivers produced 8 points in the loss.

Estudiantes — PAOK 88-77
Estudiantes celebrated the first EuroCup victory in the new season. The Madrid outfit shot down visiting PAOK. Pancho Jasen (199-G-78) knocked down 16 points to lead the effort. PAOK bravely entered the game scoring four points in a row. However Gabriel and Granger gave the lead to Estudiantes and the Spanish team rolled to a 17:14 advantage at the first break. The lead changed hands several times throughout the second frame. Estudiantes finally came out winners as they recorded a 37:33 halftime advantage. Tyrone Ellis ignited an 8:0 run from Estudiantes midway through the third stanza as the hosts grabbed a 55:45 cushion. PAOK regained composure as they trimmed the distance to only 5 points 52:57 with one quarter to go. Clark and Blanch dragged Estudiantes to a 12-point lead in the middle of the fourth quarter. PAOK clipped the deficit at 8 points but a three-pointer from Gabriel calmed things down as Estudiantes cruised to the win at the end. Nik Caner-Medley (203-F-83, agency: Priority Sports, college: Maryland) produced 13 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists for Estudiantes. Josh Asselin (211-C/F-78, agency: Duran International, college: Michigan) had 12 points in the winning case. Lazaros Papadopoulos (210-C-80) tallied impressive 24 points and 17 rebounds for PAOK. Todor Gechevski (209-C-77, agency: Interperformances) had 15 points in the loss.

Group G
CEZ Nymburk — Cajasol 77-93
Nymburk disappointed their fans with a hapless home loss to Cajasol in EuroCup opener. Louis Bullock (185-G-76, college: Michigan), Paul Davis (211-C-84, college: Michigan St.) and Txemi Urtasun (193-G-84, agency: Interperformances) knocked down 17 points apiece to lead balanced effort from the Seville team. Nymburk in the meantime were not rescued by a 29-point outburst from Ales Chan (215-C-80, agency: Edge Sports, college: Seton Hill). The start of the game did not forecast disaster for the Czech team. Ales Chan shone all around the court as he helped the hosts accumulate a 25:17 lead ten minutes into the action. Kirksay triggered a 10:0 run from Cajasol at the start of the second period as the Spanish team surged ahead. Cajasol soon gained a 33:28 lead but Nymburk answered straight back. They capped the first half with an 8:1 rally to post a 38:36 advantage. The teams stayed close throughout the third period. But it was Txemi Urtasun who made the difference. He knocked down four points late in the period to give Cajasol a 58:52 lead. Nymburk were down by just four points midway through the fourth term but Louis Bullock and Satoransky fired from afar and then Ivanov buried another jumper to make it 83:71 for Cajasol with under three minutes to go. Nymburk could not recover as the visitors cruised to the win at the end. Mindaugas Katelynas (205-F-83, college: Chattanooga) produced 11 points for Cajasol. Chester Simmons (198-G-82, agency: ZAG Advocates, college: Washington) posted 16 points in the loss.

Hapoel J-M — VEF Riga 91-78
Hapoel Jerusalem handled VEF Riga in EuroCup G opener. Brian Randle (203-F-85) scored 22 points to lead the Israeli team. It was Randle who burst out with a bunch of jumpers early in the encounter as Jerusalem grabbed a 16:3 lead. The hosts stunned the Latvian team taking a 26:12 lead ten minutes into the clash. Naimy boosted the margin to 18 points early in the second frame. VEF Riga struggled to adjust as Jerusalem coasted to a 49:33 halftime advantage. Jason Rich (191-G-86) made it a 20-point game at the start of the second half. Kristaps Janicenoks (196-F-83) and Parakhouski injected VEF Riga with some emotions as the visitors cut the distance at 14 points with one quarter to go. The Latvian team got within 11 points in the final stanza but Jerusalem easily warded off those attempts coasting to the win at the end. Jason Rich knocked down 20 points and grabbed 6 boards for Jerusalem. Willie Solomon (187-G-78, college: Clemson) contributed 17 points hitting 5/5 from beyond the arc. Kristaps Janicenoks replied with 23 points for VEF Riga. Derek Willjam (185-G-85, college: SMU) produced 20 points in the loss. Jerusalem outrebounded VEF Riga 36:20 in the win.

Group H
Krasnie Krilya — Pepsi Caserta 78-85
Pepsi Caserta left all the troubles behind and stunned Krasnye Krylia in Samara yesterday. Fabio Di Bella (187-G-78) notched 25 points to lead the Italian side to the first win in EuroCup Group H. Primoz Brezec (216-F/C-79) was the main factor in Krasnye Krilya game in the first half. The centre refused to miss as he converted all of his nine attempts from the field to keep the hosts in charge. The Samara outfit grabbed a 24:20 lead after ten minutes. Primoz Brezec was unstoppable as he combined for 20 points in the first half allowing Krasnye Krylia to comfortable seat on top 46:37. Brion Rush gave the hosts a 55:42 lead early in the third term but Pepsi Caserta turned the tables in a span of several minutes. The visitors shocked Krasnye Krylia with a 19:2 run to take a 58:57 lead. Pepsi Caserta headed into the fourth quarter up by two points 61:59. Luca Garri opened the final stanza with five points in a row as Pepsi Caserta kept on rolling. The Italian team never allowed Krasnye Krylia closer than three points in the final minutes and celebrated a well-deserved win at the end. Luca Garri delivered 15 points for Pepsi Caserta. Timothy Bowers (188-G-82, college: Mississippi St.) and Eric Williams (206-C-84, agency: Priority Sports, college: Wake Forest) added 11 points each in the win. Primoz Brezec answered with 24 points and 7 boards for Krasnye Krylia. Konstantin Nesterov (205-F/C-81, college: Va Commonwealth) accounted for 13 points in the loss.

Anwil — ALBA 74-86
Alba Berlin took the leading positions in Group H by rallying to beat Anwil 86:74 in Poland. Some rusn that bridged between the final two quarters broke the game open, while Anwil managed to get within 73-79 but McElroy and Tadija Dragicevic took care of business in crunch time to lead Alba to a well-deserved road win. Immanuel McElroy (193-G-80, college: Cincinnati) brought 20 points for the winners and Derrick Allen (203-F-80, agency: Pro One Sports, college: Mississippi) had 13 points and 10 rebounds. Nikola Jovanovic (203-C/F-81, agency: BeoExcell) delivered 20 points for the home side.