Hapoel Gilboa/Galil Elyon picked a big road win in its Eurocup opener by downing newcomer Cedevita Zagreb 83-92 on Tuesday in the Croatian capital. Jack McClinton scored 18 points to lead six Galil scorers in double figures and Rodney Green flirted with a triple double for the Israeli champs. A 0-9 run in the opening minutes gave Galil the lead for good and head coach Lior Lubin’s men remained calm even when Cedevita tried to mount several second-half charges. Galil never led the hosts closer than 5 in the second half and held on for a valuable road win. Dagan Yivzori added 16 points for Galil, which shot 10 for 19 from downtown and outrebounded Cedevita 28-41 to help mask the visitors’ 16 turnovers. Tyler Wilkerson and Warren Carter added 15 points apiece. Green finished with 11 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists and Gal Mekel had 11 points and 7 assists for the winners, who play their home opener next week against Aris BSA 2003. Hrvoje Kovacevic led Cedevita with 16 points, Vedran Vukusic scored 15, Corsley Edwards posted 14 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks, Dontaye Draper accounted for 11 points and 5 assists and Robert Troha added 10 points in defeat. Cedevita visits BC Azovmash in Week 2.

McClinton got Galil on the scoreboard first before Vukusic and Troha got the hosts on top 6-2. Wilkerson took charge with 5 points in a 0-9 Galil response that gave the Israeli champs the lead for good. A Troha triple narrowed the gap to 13-15 midway through the opening quarter, but McClinton tripled and Carter scored on the offensive glass as Galil stretched its lead to 8. Troha and Trent Plaisted scored from the line to keep Cedevita within 17-22 after 10 minutes. Damjan Rudez started the second quarter with a three-pointer to bring the hosts bask within 2. Galil came back with back-to-back threes from McClinton and Yivzori to reassert control. Vukusic connected from downtown and Dino Butorac made it 27-30, however Yivzori had three more threes in him and the third gave Galil its first double-digit lead, 29-41. Cedevita turned to Edwards inside and he did not disappoint, but Yivzori and Wilkerson matched the Cedevita big man and a Wilkerson slam left the visitors on top 39-49 at halftime.

Kovacevic stepped up for the home team early in the second half, but after a silent first half, Gal Mekel came alive for the visitors and keyed a 0-7 spurt for a 44-59 lead. Edwards did not give in and helped lead a Cedevita charge that narrowed the gap to 55-61 midway through the third quarter. Green though did not let the hosts any closer and answered baskets from Kovacevic and Edwards from the line to keep his team ahead 61-67 heading into the deciding quarter. A Vukusic triple made it a 5-point game as the home crowd raised its level of support. McClinton remained unfazed and drained a three and a jumper to push Galil up to 67-76. Green soon made it a 10-point lead again. Draper tried to find some magic for Cedevita, but could not get his team closer than 8 as Galil continued to make its shots. Carter and Mekel made free throws in the closing minutes to help wrap up a promising road win for Galil.