Crvena Zvezda opens Last 32 with big home win

Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade started the Eurocup Last 32 in style by downing last season's finalist Bilbao Basket 105-87 in Group L in the Serbian capital on Wednesday. Charles Jenkins paced the winners with 16 points. Boban Marjanovic posted a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds, Marko Simonovic had 12 points, DeMarcus Nelson and Rasko Katic each added 11 while Branko Lazic and Tadija Dragicevic got 10 apiece for Zvezda, which hit 32-of-42 two-pointers and outrebounded Bilbao by 38-22. Its performance index ranking (132) was the fourth-highest in Eurocup history after the regular season. Dairis Bertans led Bilbao with 14 points. Antanas Kavaliauskas added 13 on 6-of-7 two-point shots, Raul Lopez had 12 while Alex Mumbru got 10 and 6 assists for the guests, which trailed 28-24 after 10 minutes. Dragicevic abd Katic allowed Zvezda to get its first double-digit lead, 35-25, but Bilbao got within 50-46 at halftime. Zvezda rolled after the break, boosted its margin to 87-71 after 30 minutes and extended it to 97-77 to seal the outcome long before the final buzzer.

Nelson fed Marjanovic for the opening basket and scored off a steal in an 8-2 opening run that Schilb capped with a jumper. Axel Hervelle shined with a tip-in but Schilb followed a jumper with an alleyoop tip-in to keep the hosts ahead, 12-6. Mumbru struck from downtown and German Gabriel bettered Ivan Radenovic's dunk with his trademark triple from the key. Radenovic dunked again and a three-point play by Marjanovic ignited the crowd at 19-12. Lopez and Simonovic traded triples but Kavaliauskas and Fran Pilepic brought Bilbao within 24-21. Jaka Blazic followed free throws with a dunk and a three-pointer by Zoran Vrkic fixed the score at 28-24 after 10 minutes. Dragicevic and Katic fueled a 7-1 run that gave Zvezda a 35-25 edge early in the second quarter. Kavaliauskas and Damir Markota tried to change things for Bilbao but Marjanovic dunked for a 40-29 score. Pilepic buried a triple and a wild dunk by Nelson restored a 42-32 Zvezda margin. Markota did even better with a three-pointer and Gabriel copied him right after that to make Zvezda call timeout at 44-38. Jenkins and Bertans traded baskets and a jumper by Lopez kept the guests within 46-42. An outstanding Marjanovic gave Zvezda a 50-46 edge at halftime.

Nelson nailed a corner three-pointer immediately after the break and a free throw by Marjanovic gave the hosts a 54-46 margin. Lopez sank a jumper which Marjanovic erased with a slam. Nelson slammed it off a steal and a three-pointer by Lazic broke the game open, 61-48. Bertans scored off a Bilbao timeout and bettered Radenovic's jumper with a three-pointer for a 63-53 deficit. Kavaliauskas scored down low, Lazic and Lopez exchanged three-pointers and a layup-plus-foul by Radenovic restored a 69-58 Zvezda lead. Mumbru and roger Grimau gave Bilbao hope at 71-64 but Jenkins, Katic and Dragicevic boosted Zvezda's margin to 83-67 after 30 minutes. A red hot Katic scored again and Nelson added a jumper but Kavaliauskas kept Bilbao within 87-71. Simonovic hit a three-pointer but an up-and-under layup by Grimau and free throws by Hervelle made it 92-77 with over 4 minutes left. Simonovic struck again from downtown and a layup by Dragicevic sealed the outcome, 97-77. Bilbao never gave up but all Zvezda fans at Pionir Arena had plenty of time to celebrate a no-doubt-about-it home win.