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Edo Muric scored 20 points as the 2011 champions started Group A action with a win |
Four players scored in double figures as the 2011 EuroChallenge winners KRKA Novo Mesto won their Group A opener 100-73 at home over Michelin ETHA.
Edo Muric led the way with 20 points and eight rebounds; Domen Lorbek had 19 points; Jakov Vladovic collected 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists; whilst Jure Lucic had 13 points and seven rebounds for the Slovenian hosts.
Ogooluwa Adegboye paced the guests from Cyprus with 16 points while Akida Mc Lain added 12 points and six rebounds in the loss.
KRKA opened an early 10-2 lead and it grew to 10 points (14-4) before ETHA trimmed the gap to 15-11. But the hosts were ahead 24-13 after one quarter.
The Slovenia side was clearly in control and did not let ETHA into the game with Lorbek draining a three for a 15-point cushion and later back-to-back baskets to make it 42-28. Taron Downey ended the first half with two consecutive long balls to cut the deficit to 46-37 at the break.
Novo Mesto used an 18-6 run in the third quarter to open a 64-45 lead to regain the dominance. The advantage was 71-53 after three quarters.
The guests would only get to within 17 points in the fourth quarter while the lead grew to 27 points.
Krka guard Domen Lorbek
"The first game is always very important. We wanted to start with a win and we managed that. Etha is better team than score at the end shows. We played quite good defence and managed to get some difference in the beginning of the game and that was crucial."
Etha head coach Kyriakos Adamou
"Participation in this competition is very important for us. We have a young team this season, for most of the players this is their first appearance on such a level. We don't have a lot of time to practice. Although we're not happy with the score, because difference was very big, this game was important for us. We'll try to be better in the future."
Etha point guard Ogooluwa Adegboye
"It's good for us to see how we are able to play on this level of competition. It won't be easy for us, we must travel a lot and play against good teams. We can play much better and I hope we can show that in the next games."
Krka guard Domen Lorbek
"The first game is always very important. We wanted to start with a win and we managed that. Etha is better team than score at the end shows. We played quite good defence and managed to get some difference in the beginning of the game and that was crucial."
Etha head coach Kyriakos Adamou
"Participation in this competition is very important for us. We have a young team this season, for most of the players this is their first appearance on such a level. We don't have a lot of time to practice. Although we're not happy with the score, because difference was very big, this game was important for us. We'll try to be better in the future."
Etha point guard Ogooluwa Adegboye
"It's good for us to see how we are able to play on this level of competition. It won't be easy for us, we must travel a lot and play against good teams. We can play much better and I hope we can show that in the next games."