BC Kyiv sent out an early warning shot to their rivals for this season's EuroCup with a comfortable win over BC Barons Riga in Group G.

The Ukrainian giants ran Dynamo St Petersburg close in last season's FIBA Europe League final and showed they could again be Final Four contenders with a 99-72 victory in the opener for both sides.

Kyiv were big favourites going into this game, with Barons only having just taken up a place in the competition following the unexpected departure of Pinar Karsiyaka.

Kyiv got a balanced scoring attack with five players in double figures, led by summer recruit Michael Harris' 17.

The 22-year-old forward averaged 20.5 points per game in the NCAA with Rice University in Texas last season and has made a positive start to his professional career, helping Kyiv to three games from three in the Ukrainian championship and now a winning start in Europe.

The Ukrainian champions can also boast a strong defence.

Barons peppered their basket from distance but landed just six of 27 (22.2%) from behind the arc.

Kyiv dominated the boards in this contest, pulling down 41 rebounds to just 23 for Barons.

The hosts effectively put the game way in the first quarter when they raced into 28-14 lead.

They stretched their lead to 56-35 by half-time.

Michailo Anisimov, Barons' 21-year-old center, had 17 points in defeat while Lithuanian team-mate Giedrius Gustas weighed in with 16.