Rytas roll past Copenhagen to start quest for repeat

Reigning continental champion U18 Rytas Vilnius started its attempt to repeat its win in the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Kaunas with a convincing 66-92 victory over U18 DBA Copenhagen in Group B. Marek Blazevic and Hubertus Pivorius both scored 14 points for Rytas while Azuolas Tubelis had 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists and Augustas Marciulionis added 11 points and 4 assists. Gustav Knudsen collected 14 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks and Jonathan Klussmann picked up 13 points and 4 assists for Copenhagen, which was playing in this competition for the first time.

Rytas jumped ahead 5-13 as Daniel Baslyk scored 5 points. Copenhagen responded with a mini 6-0 run but Rytas punched back with a 3-15 surge and led 14-28 after 10 minutes. Kasparas Jonauaskas, Marciulionis, Adas Simonis and Erikas Jermolajevas all nailed three-pointers as Rytas went on a 7-19 spurt to forge ahead 24-49. Copenhagen got 7 points from Klussmann in an 11-0 run to get within 35-49 but it was 35-53 at intermission. Rytas did not let Copenhagen back into the game and went on a 4-13 run during the third quarter, which ended with the Lithuanian side up 44-72. Copenhagen stayed even with Rytas in the fourth quarter and trailed 57-79 before a 2-13 Rytas surge ended all doubts.