Euroleague newcomers Pinar Karisyaka Izmir sent shockwaves around the basketball fratnerity with a 71-62 opening night win over Barcelona in Group C.
Karisyaka too the lead for good twoards the latter stages of the first half as Colton Iverson connected on a three-point play and a decisive 10-0 run mid-way through the third ended any hopes of a Barcelona comeback.
Iverson finished with 16 points and eight rebounds with Kenny Gabriel posting 12 points and 10 rebounds. Justin Doellman collected 14 points and 7 boards for the visitors.
Five CSKA Moscow hit double figures in scoring as they eased past Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv 100-69 in the Russian capital.
Nando De Colo netted 17 points to lead the Muscovites to an opening day win in Group D.
“I think you saw that our team dominated on the floor tonight, and I’d like to congratulate my players for that, CSKA coach Dimitris Itoudis said. “I liked the pace we had, the tone which was picked up off defense. I liked how we played on the glass, we had 16 rebounds offensively taking almost the same number as Maccabi [19].”
Jordan Farmar hit 17 for Maccabi.
Elsewhere in Group D, Unicaja Malaga began their Euroleague season with a 76-71 home win over Brose Baskets.
Mindaugas Kuzminskas dominated for Unicaja in the second half, en route to 18 points.
There was also an opening day win for Turkish debutants Darussafaka Dogus, as they needed overtime to topple Dinamo Sassari 83-74.
It was the Italian side though that led 66-61 heading into the final minute until veteran Emir Preldzic drained a triple to tie proceedings at 66-66. The Turkish side got the better of a tiring Sassari side to snatch victory.
Milko Bjelica finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds for the winners.
In Group A, Red Star Belgrade made short work of Strasbourg, romping to an 81-59 win in the Serbian capital.
Maik Zorbes hit 18 points, shooting 9/12 from the field to lead Red Star.
Last season’s runners-up Olympiacos started life in Group with a 76-61 win over Cedevita Zagreb.
Georgios Printezis led the way for the victors with 20 points.
