CAI Zaragoza survives Paris Levallois at home in opener


CAI Zaragoza opened its Eurocup campaign with a win, holding on for 77-76 success over Paris Levallois in Group A on Wednesday. CAI hit 11 three-pointers and dished 25 assists, as it took the lead for good in the second quarter, but had to withstand a barrage of seven fourth quarter triples from the visitors to preserve victory. Marcus Landry and Stevan Jelovac each scored 15 points for the hosts. Chris Goulding netted 13 with 6 assists, and Henk Norel contributed with 11 in victory. Blake Schilb led Paris with 17 points, Malaye Ndoye netted 13, while Mike Green finished with 8 points and 9 assists in defeat.

A pair of triples from Landry and couple of baskets inside from Rasko Katic gave CAI early 12-8 lead, but Paris responded with a 0-7 run, capped by a three-pointer from Giovan Oniangue. Goulding replied with one downtown dagger for the hosts, as teams were in a 17-17 tie after 10 minutes. At the start of the second Norel had a pair of dunks for CAI, and after a triple from Goulding, it was Norel’s fastbreak layup that opened 27-19 margin. However, Schilb scored 7 of the next 9 points for Paris, and Oniangue nailed another three-pointer to get the visitors within 32-31. ž Jelovac helped CAI hold on to the lead, and go into halftime in front 38-33.

After the break, Green kept Paris within couple of possessions, with help from Schilb and Sharrod Ford. But Jason Robinson and Kevin Lisch made sure CAI remains in front. After Landing Sane got the visitors within 45-43, back-to-back triples from Goulding and Jelovac helped CAI to 53-43, first double-digit lead of the game. But Nicholas Lang hit a triple for the visitors to end the third, and Sane nailed one to start the fourth, and Paris was back within 4 points. But Norel and Jelovac scored on three consecutive trips down the floor, and couple of layups from Pere Tomas opened 63-53 margin. Paris replied with triples from Schilb and Ndoye in 0-7 run, but Tomas answered right back from long range, before Goulding and Landry added more triples for CAI, and 73-62. In the final three minutes, Louis Labeyrie and Schilb each hit one, while Ndoye buried three more three-pointers. But it was too little too late for Paris, as it was enough only to get within 77-76 as time ran out, and the hosts celebrated a win to open their Eurocup campaign.