Asefa Estudiantes had a good return to the Eurocup after a four-year absence by downing difficult PAOK BC 88-77 in the Spanish capital in Group F on Tuesday. Pancho Jasen paced the winners with 16 points. Nik Caner-Medley added 13, 7 rebounds and 5 assists while Josh Asselin had 12 points for Estudiantes. Lazaros Papadopoulos led PAOK with 24 points and 17 rebounds - but missed his 8 free throw attempts. Todor Gecevski added 15, Rawle Marshall had 13 while Donnie McGrath got 12 for the guests. Papadopoulos shined in the first half and free throws by Justin Gray gave PAOK its biggest lead, 25-31, late in the second quarter. A 10-0 run allowed Estudiantes to get a 37-33 halftime edge and soon got a 55-45 margin after the break. An outstanding Marc Blanch and big minutes by Jaime Fernandez and German Gabriel allowed Estudiantes to stay out of trouble until the final buzzer.

Papadopoulos got PAOK going with a layup and free throws for a 0-4 lead. Caner-Medley found Asselin for a dunk and soon split free throws but an outstanding Papadopoulos and free throws by Roberto Dozier allowed PAOK to stay ahead, 5-8. Jayson Granger found Gabriel for his trademark triple and soon a shot from downtown to give Estudiantes its first lead, 11-8. Papadopoulos and Caner-Medley traded baskets and a layup by Dozier kept the guests within 13-12. Jasen found his first points in transition and Gabriel added a layup but a jumper by Gray got PAOK as close as 17-14 after 10 minutes. Estudiantes found a go-to guy in Daniel Clark early in the second quarter but a layup by Papadopoulos ignited a 0-8 run in which Gecevski had 4 points to make PAOK regain the lead, 20-22. Jasen shined with a three-point play and Jiri Welsch added free throws but Gecevski singlehandedly kept the guests ahead, 25-27. A layup by Nikos Kalles and free throws by Gray gave PAOK its biggest lead, 25-31. It didn't last long, however, as Caner-Medley dunked it twice in a 10-0 run that made Estudiantes regain the lead, 35-31. A layup by Papadopoulos and free throws by Fernandez fixed the halftime score at 37-33.

Gecevski scored down low immediately after the break and than matched Asselin's free throws with a layup to keep PAOK within 39-37. Caner-Medley hit foul shots and Asselin scored twice in the paint to give Estudiantes some fresh air at 45-39. PAOK went back to its go-to guy, as Papadopoulos scored three times in the low post to get his team as close as 47-45. Ty Ellis rescued Estudiantes with back-to-back three-pointers in an 8-0 run that boosted the hosts' lead to 55-45. Gecevski scored inside and Marshall added a triple to give PAOK some hope at 55-50. Caner-Medley and Dozier traded baskets for a 57-52 score after 30 minutes. Caner-Medley shined with a power layup that McGrath beat with a triple early in the fourth quarter. Granger took over with a three-point play and Blanch scored off a steal to boost Estudiantes' lead to 64-55. Papadopoulos scored down low but Clark struck from downtown and Blanch added free throws to make it a 12-point game, 69-57. Marshall and Papadopoulos managed to get PAOK within 73-65. Fernandez and Blanch shined in crunch time and a big triple by Gabriel sealed the outcome, 83-72. PAOK kept trying but the hosts had cruised to a big win.