Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem picked up its first victory of the Eurocup by beating BC Budivelnik Kiev 81-67. Jerusalem was paced by Craig Smith’s 18 points while Josh Duncan scored 17, Raviv Limonad had 13 and Jacob Pullen chipped in 10 points for the hosts, who improved to 1-2. Budivelnik dropped to 1-2 – losing its second road game in the group – despite 18 points and 8 rebounds from former Jerusalem forward Leo Lyons and 12 points from Artur Drozdov.

Duncan and Limonad hit back-to-back three-pointers early in the game to help open a 15-9 lead. Sergiy Gorbenko cut the gap to three points with a triple and Budivelnik had it back down to two before trailing 22-18 after one quarter. Duncan’s score early in the second period had the hosts’ advantage up to eight points – 26-18. Gorbenko again hit a long ball but Meir Tapiro’s baskets started an 8-0 run for a 34-21 Jerusalem lead. The cushion grew further thanks to a Duncan three-point play and layup to open a 43-28 lead and it was 47-30 on Smith’s basket. The hosts went into the locker rooms ahead comfortably ahead 49-33.

Elishay Kadir’s score made it 53-23 to start the second half. But the Jerusalem offense stalled, going scoreless for five minutes as Lyons brought Budivelnik to within 55-45. And then Dainius Salenga and George Tsintsadze both nailed late threes to cut the gap to 61-53 after three quarters. Smith started the fourth though with a three-ball and a basket and Limonad’s score had the hosts back up 68-53. Lyons and Drozdov would hit three-pointers to cut the margin to 12 points – 73-61 – but Courtney Fells’ basket re-established a 14-point lead 75-61 with just more than three minutes left. And Budivelnik would not get closer than 10 points the rest of the way.