Pustozvonov Leads Kyiv To Opening Win

Maksym Pustozvonov poured in 24 points to lead BC Kyiv to an 83-70 win over KK Zagreb in the opening game of their EuroChallenge Group H campaign.

The 1.99m forward shot nine of 11 (81.8%) from field goal range, including five of six (83.3%) from three-point range in an outstanding display.

Point guard Denys Lukashov provided plenty of support with 21 points, eight assists and five steals for a Kyiv team that reeled off a 23-4 run that spanned the first and second quarters to turn an early deficit into a dominating 27-12 lead.

Zagreb did not go away, however, chipping away at the hosts' advantage throughout the second quarter and closing the gap to three, 39-36, on Krunoslav Simon's lay-up with 2:37 to go in the half.

Zagreb then got back in front early in the second half, opening the third quarter with an 8-0 run that put them on top 45-42 on Ante Tomic's lay-up.

After the teams traded the lead several times, Kyiv once again took the advantage midway through the period as Oleksandr Lypovyy's free-throws sparked a 7-0 run from which they never looked back, slowly easing away for the rest of the game.

Lypovyy also reached double figures for Kyiv with 12 points, while Artem Shvets added 10.

Simon led Zagreb with 19, while Tomic had 17 and seven rebounds. Vladimir Krstic added 14 points but accounted for five of the team's 15 turnovers.

Quotes BC Kyiv vs. KK Zagreb

"I want to say thank you to all fans, who came tonight and supported us. For our team it was very important game. And I'm glad, that we showed, that BC Kyiv can performed good even without any foreigner player."

Vitaliy Cherniy, BC Kyiv head coach:
" I'm proud of my players, who played really smart. We're a young team and we're just learning how to play in European competitions. Today we made one more step to higher level.

"We faced a strong opponent with very good players on positions five and four, so that in the beginning of the game we didn't feel comfortable in the paint. Also we had some problems with zone defense, which KK Zagreb used a lot. But in the end we resolved all this questions.

"I know, that tonight KK Zagreb played without a few important players. And I understand, that in Croatia we will face an even better opponent."

Denis Bajramovic, KK Zagreb head coach:
"Today the BC Kyiv team looked better during almost all forty minutes and the deserved this win. The home club players showed character and performed very well, especially players such Lukashov, Pustozvonov and Kravtsov."

Toni Dijan, KK Zagreb player:
"I agree with my coach. BC Kyiv played better, they made the right decisions during the game and they deserve this win. But, of course, at home we'll try to grab victory against this team."