Jakub Niziol starred on the night for the Polish side
Slask starts EuroCup season with victory over Neptunas, 95-85



Slask Wroclaw started the new BKT EuroCup season with a solid 95-85 win over Neptunas Klaipeda at Centennial Hall. After a one-season absence from the EuroCup, team effort brought the victory to Slask in Round 1.
Jakub Niziol posted 15 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners, which gave him a 26 PIR, while Kadre Gray added 21 points and 3 assists. Noah Kirkwood also contributed 14 points and 6 assists. Neptunas was paced by Arnas Velicka, who recorded a double-double of 16 points and 10 assists. James Karnik added 14 points and 6 rebounds, and Donatas Tarolis chipped in with 13 points and 5 boards.
Game Videos
The opening quarter began with Neptunas taking the first possession, but Gray scored the first points at the line. Tarolis added the first three-pointer to make it 9-4. Slask responded as Niziol’s block led to Kirkwood’s basket, and soon after Jared Colman’s block set up Dejon Davis in transition, sparking a 7-0 run for a 19-11 edge. Kirkwood’s drives kept Slask in control, and the hosts closed the first quarter ahead, 28-21.
After a two-minute scoring drought to start the second quarter, Zane Waterman hit a triple to spark Neptunas, and Richard Lomasz added another for a 29-28 lead. Slask answered with Stefan Dordevic inside and a three-point play from Kirkwood before Waterman tied it at 34-34. Velicka then stole the ball and scored for a 39-37 edge. A close quarter ended with Neptunas holding a narrow 47-45 advantage.
The third quarter opened with Gray scoring for Slask, but Velicka answered from deep. Velicka became the key figure of the quarter, directing plays and keeping Neptunas in rhythm. Karnik’s alley-oop gave Neptunas a 50-49 lead, but Slask responded with three-pointers from Niziol and Issuf Sanon to move in front, 58-55. In a back-and-forth finish, Slask held a slim 70-69 edge.
Velicka assisted Karnik for a layup to start the fourth period, but both teams tightened their defense, keeping the scoring low in the first five minutes. With 2:44 remaining, Niziol converted his own rebound into a layup, pushing Slask’s lead into double digits for the first time. Neptunas kept fighting, but Slask controlled the final stretch and sealed the win with Gray’s three-pointer.