Rytas Vilnius started the FIBA Basketball Champions League Top 16 stage with a convincing home victory on Tuesday night. In front of a home crowd, Giedrius Žibėnas’ team defeated Israel’s Hapoel Holon 106:81.
The game began with an early basket by Jacob Wiley, and team captain Artūras Gudaitis soon energized the arena with a strong block. However, early nerves and mistakes allowed Hapoel Holon to take control, as Rytas fell behind 2:10. Head coach Giedrius Žibėnas quickly called a timeout, and the offense began to click thanks to Jordan Caroline and Ignas Sargiūnas.
Rytas finished the first quarter strongly. A three-pointer by Jordan Walker and a three-point play by Kay Bruhnke erased the deficit, with Walker later tying the game at 14:14. After free throws from Gytis Masiulis and Caroline, Rytas briefly took the lead, but Hapoel held a narrow advantage after the first quarter (20:22).
In the second quarter, Rytas shifted into a higher gear. Simonas Lukošius and Gudaitis put the home team back in front, while three-pointers from Lukošius and Bruhnke extended the lead. Jerrick Harding added an aggressive drive, and baskets by Wiley and Sargiūnas helped Rytas build its first double-digit lead (42:30). A late three-pointer by Caroline capped an excellent run, sending Rytas into halftime comfortably ahead, 45:33.
After the break, Rytas remained in full control. Although Hapoel tried to respond with outside shooting, Speedy Smith, Lukošius, and Harding answered with threes of their own, pushing the lead even further (59:43). Late in the third quarter, Masiulis knocked down another three-pointer, and Gudaitis sealed a dominant advantage from the free-throw line. Rytas entered the final quarter leading 78:58.
The fourth quarter was largely a formality. Despite some heated moments, including a technical foul on the visitors that Harding converted from the line, Rytas never let go of the lead. The final buzzer confirmed a well-deserved 106:81 victory for Rytas Vilnius.
Rytas played without Martynas Paliukėnas and Danielius Kasparas in this game.
Rytas Vilnius will play its next FIBA Basketball Champions League game on January 27 in Vilnius, facing last season’s finalists Galatasaray Istanbul — the team that stopped Rytas from reaching the Top 8 last season.
Tickets for the upcoming matchup are available at Bilietai.lt.