Budivelnyk Kyiv outscored BC Wolves in fast breaks to win the first quarter-final game, 83-80, on Saturday, March 11, at Alytus, Lithuania.
Players of the game
Bogdan Bliznyuk scored 20 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field, including a layup with five seconds left.
Small forward grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out four assists for Budivelnyk Kyiv.
Archie Goodwin delivered similar load for the Ukrainian team.
He had 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field.
Goodwin added seven rebounds, five assists and a game high three steals.
Jerai Grant dropped a double-double.
Big man posted 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Ahmad Caver led the hosts with 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field.
Wolves guard registered five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Eric Buckner dropped 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.
Center blocked two shots and grabbed six rebounds.
The rest of the pack combined for 34 points.
Key stats
Teams played a great transition basketball in the first half.
Budivelnyk Kyiv scored more points in fast breaks, 14-10, for a five point lead at the half, 43-38.
The Wolves struggled from the three point line, connecting just 1-of-10 attempts in the first 20 minutes.
The Kyivites were more successful from the deep, 4-of-10.
Budivelnyk extended its lead up to 13 points midway the third quarter, 58-45.
The hosts stormed back to cut the gap to four points after five consecutive points by Kristupas Žemaitis, 63-59.
Rimas Kurtinaitis team made it a one possession game with 02:37 left when Adas Juškevičius hit a three pointer, 78-75.
The teams exchanged blows after the two timeouts.
Johnny Berhanemeskel and Miniotas added more shots from the deep, 81-78.
Arnas Beručka had a chance to make a go-ahead three pointer with less than 30 seconds left but missed, 81-80.
Bliznyuk renewed a three points lead for Budivelnyk, 83-80.
The Wolves fouled Budivelnyk players twice during the remaining four seconds.
Game clock was reset from 0.8 to 1.3 seconds.
Adas Juškevičius received the ball but missed the last shot.
The Builders outrebounded Wolves, 47-38.
Game notes
March 11 is the Restoration of Independence Day in Lithuania, celebrating the events of 1990 when the Supreme Council of Lithuania approved the Independence Declaration.
The starters took the center stage before tippoff, while holding the joint flag of Lithuania and Ukraine as well as a sign Stand with Ukraine.
Budivelnyk Kyiv played in uniforms made from recycled plastic.
2400 spectators attended the game.
SCHEDULE (local time only)
(A1) Polski Cukier Start Lublin – Ironi Ness Ziona (B4)
Game one: Ironi Ness Ziona 77-90 Polski Cukier Start Lublin
Game two: Monday, March 20, Lublin 18:00
(A2) Budivelnyk Kyiv – BC Wolves (B3)
Game one: BC Wolves 80-83 Budivelnyk Kyiv
Game two: Saturday, March 18, Pala Coccia di Veroli 19:30
(A3) Zastal Zielona Gora – BM Stal Ostrow (B2)
Game one: Sunday, March 12, Zielona Gora 16:00
Game two: Tuesday, March 21, Ostrow 19:00
(A4) KB Sigal Prishtina – King Szczecin (B1)
Game one: Sigal Prishtina 64-64 King Szczecin
Game two: Monday, March 20, Szczecin 18:00