MUNICH (Germany) - The FIBA Europe Cup Qualifiers got underway on Wednesday with ties nicely poised heading into next week's second legs.
It's advantage for the unseeded teams with Absheron Lions, CSM Corona Brasov, KK Cibona, PUMPA Basket Brno, BC Bashkimi, RASTA and KK Bosna all winning at home to gain an early advantage.
The second leg between BC Dnipro and CSM Corona Brasov will take place on Saturday, with the remaining ties on Wednesday.
BC Bashkimi 80-75 Anwil Wloclawek
BC Bashkimi of Kosovo stunned 2023 FIBA Europe Cup winners Anwil Wloclawek 80-75 in a fiercely competitive first leg.
The hosts led for the majority of the game, taking a lead as large as 13 points, as they hit 10 three-pointers, whereas their Polish counterparts went just 6-for-24 from distance and 15-for-23 from the free throw line.
Jeremiah Bailey led Bashkimi with 16 points, hitting three triples in his haul. Isaiah Mucius had a game-high 18 points along with 7 rebounds in a losing effort for Anwil Wloclawek but it promises to be a fiesty second leg next Wednesday in Poland.
PUMPA Basket Brno 83-75 Transcom Parnu
The Czech side, PUMPA Basket Brno, started strong, leading to an 83-75 victory over the Estonians of Transcom Parnu. However, despite the loss, Parnu finished on a high, leaving it all to play for next Wednesday.
Anthony Williams led Brno with 24 points, as the Czech side raced to a 39-12 cushion towards the latter part of the second quarter. To the credit of Parnu, they never let their heads drop and reduced the sizeable deficit to 63-57 two minutes into the fourth.
But the hosts reclaimed their stranglehold of the game and sealed the win, but will be disappointed that they didn't maintain their double-digit lead.
Daniel Johansson had 22 points for Parnu.
Absheron Lions 89-73 Anorthosis Famagusta
The Azerbajani side Absheron Lions have the upper hand going into the second leg against their Cypriot counterparts Anorthosis Famagusta, having won 89-73 in Baku.
The Lions led from tip to buzzer, racing out to a double-digit lead less than four minutes into the first quarter in what was a furious start by the hosts. Their lead peaked at 32 points as Anorthosis Famagusta never got a look in.
Saadettin Donat led the victors with 16 points and 10 rebounds, supported by a 15-point, 10-assist double-double from James Frazier. Tanner Christensen paced Anorthosis Famagusta with 13.
CSM Corona Brasov 83-69 BC Dnipro
CSM Corona Brasov will take a sizeable double-digit lead heading into the next leg after beating Ukrainian outfit BC Dnipro 83-69 in Romania.
The hosts took advantage in the early stages of the game, a lead they never relinquished against a Dnipro side that shot only 7-for-15 from the foul line, compared to a solid 18-for-21 from Brasov.
Munis Tutu had 20 points and 7 assists to lead Brasov. Chrunn Williamson amassed a game-high 25 points along with 11 boards for Dnipro.
KK Cibona 91-83 BC Prievidza
KK Cibona needed some time to get going, but eventually got the better of BC Prievidza 91-83 in Zagreb. However, despite the result, the game is still nicely poised going into the second leg.
In a rollercoaster of a battle that saw seven lead changes going into the midway point of the third quarter, a 7-0 run from Cibona handed them a 56-52 lead that they never let go, despite the Slovakian side bringing it back to within a point on numerous occasions.
Cibona then saw it home, despite pressure from Prievidza. Despite the eight-point win, however, the game still has more twists and turns ahead as it heads into next Wednesday's return game.
Justin Roberson led the winners with 24 points, shooting 52 percent from the floor, helped by Kamaka Hepa's 13 points. Davontrey Thomas hit five triples as he paced Prievidza with 25.
KK Bosna BH Telecom 82-57 Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen
KK Bosna have one foot into the Regular Season after a dominating 82-57 win over Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Michael Young enjoyed a double-double of 22 and 11 rebounds in the win as the hosts recovered from a slow start to post a big win heading into the second leg.
Mojeed Ewuosho had 17 points for Mechelen.
RASTA 79-63 BC Balkan
German newcomers RASTA sent their fans home happy with a deserved 79-63 victory over Bulgarian side BC Balkan.
After a closely-contested first half, the German side raced away in the third, winning the quarter 33-19 to create separation and leave their visitors in the dust. Alanzo Verge had 18 points and 9 assists to lead RASTA.
The duo of Iliyan Pishtikov and Jack Pagenkopf amassed 17 points for BC Balkan, who will need a big performance at home to return to the Regular Season.
Weekly Highs
Efficiency: Michael Young (KK Bosna BH Telecom) - 29 Points: Chrunn Williamson (BC Dnipro) - 25 Rebounds: Jalen Shaw (Absheron Lions) - 12 Assists: James Frazier (Absheron Lions) / Devin Harris (Transcom Parnu) - 10 Steals: Devin Harris (Transcom Parnu) - 5 Blocks: Naje Smith (BC Prievidza) - 4
FIBA