Zalgiris has little trouble with Nanterre

U18 Zalgiris Kaunas improved to 2-0 at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Kaunas in picking up a 53-90 victory over debutant U18 Nanterre 92. Paulius Muraukas collected 19 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals to pace Zalgiris in the Group A encounter. Oleg Kojenets added 14 points and Dominykas Stenionis and Matas Repsys both chipped in 11 points for the 2003 and 2007 continental champion. Nanterre, which earlier on Day 1 beat U18 Umana Reyer Venice in its first-ever ANGT game, was led by Marc-Antoine Loemba with 11 points. Victor Wembanyama was held to 7 points while also picking up 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 6 blocks as the team dropped to 1-1.

Murauskas made a statement, dunking off the opening tip. Christ Essandoko picked up two baskets for Nanterre as the game was even 9-9 in the early going. Stenionis, Murauskas and Repsys all knocked down triples in a 0-11 run over 3 minutes for a 9-20 lead. Ugnius Jarusevicius’ free throws pushed the gap to 15 points at 11-24 and the home side scored the final six points of the quarter and led 14-32. Zalgiris kept Nanterre scoreless for another 6 minutes and Murauskas hit five points for 16-41 margin. Essandoko hit a three-pointer for the French side but Zalgiris was up 25-43 at the break. Repsys scored five points as Zalgiris didn’t let Nanterre back into the game with a 31-52 lead. Radvilas Kneizys and Murauskas both added long balls in the closing moments of the third quarter and the host side was leading 39-66 after 30 minutes. Nanterre needed nearly 3 minutes to score in the final frame and Kojenets scored four points in pushing the lead to 39-72. Ethan Annerose did hit a three-ball for Nanterre but Stenionis answered right back with a trey of his own and Repsys’ score made it 44-79 and all doubts were finished for good.