Siauliai started their Eurocup campaign by losing an away game in Jerusalem against Hapoel 76:89 on Tuesday.
Derrick Low scored 17, Brandon Brown added 14 points and 11 boards as Arvydas Siksnius netted 11 for Siauliai. Hapoel was led by Americans Dijon Thompson and Tre Simmons, who both had 19.
The hosts Hapoel started the game with energy and Siauliai's coach Antanas Sireika had to ask for a time out as his team was trailing 9:16. Both teams exchanged runs of 4 unanswered points at the end of the first quarter.
Siauliai managed to make it a 4 point game at 16:20, but Hapoel struck back and were ahead 30:19. The Lithuanian team managed to bring it back to four as the hosts went on one more run to make it 41:32 at halftime.
The guests from Siauliai went with a flow and brought the game back close at 43:46. Despite that, Hapoel regained a 9 point lead, only to see it cut by a 12:5 Siauliai run, stretching 3 minutes to bring the score to 55:57.
A double-digit host lead in the fourth quarter was erased by two Derrick Low 3 pointers - 69:73. Some insensible shots and silly turnovers allowed the Isreali side to bring the game to a comfortable end.
