Croatian national team veteran Slaven Rimac scored 22 points to lead Cedevita Zagreb to a 76-72 home victory against BC Strumica 2005 in the first Elimination Round of the EuroCup.

Rimac came to Cedevita with loads of experience, including helping Azovmash Mariupol reach the EuroCup final last season. And the 32-year-old guard came up big time and again for Cedevita, none bigger than his three-point play for a 75-71 lead late.

The Zagreb club have high hopes of building themselves into a top team in Croatia after playing in the second division A2 in 2002.

Jeff Graves chipped in 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the winners while Petar Dujmovic added 12 points, nine boards and four steals for the Croatians, who played in the Europe Cup in 2003-04.

The second game will be played on November 6 in F.Y.R Macedonia.

Miljan Pupovic paced the way for the reigning league champions Strumica with 22 points while Eftim Bogojev had 13 points and seven assists.