Results and Stats from Day 1 in Gdynia

France - Poland 110-56
France coasted past Poland in the opener. les Bleus dominated from start to finish. They established a 58-35 halftime lead and cruised to the victory in the second half. Zacharie Perrin (206-C-2004, college: Illinois) stepped up with 22 points, while Halvin Dzellat-Diakeno (207-C/F-2004) accounted for 15 points for France. Anthony Wrzeczsz answered with 19 points for Poland.

Montenegro - Slovenia 61-81
Slovenia cruised past Montenegro in the opener. Montenegro registered a 39-36 halftime advantage. But Slovenia responded with a 45-22 second half rally to steal the win. Urban Klavzar (184-PG-2004) and Vukasin Todorovic (202-F-2004) finished with 15 points each for the winners. Vladimir Sudar (194-G-2005) and Danilo Lacmanovic (205-F-2004) posted 16 points apiece for Montenegro.

Turkey - Belgium 62-64
Belgium nipped Turkey to open win count in Group C. Turkey led by four points after ten minutes. But Belgium responded with a 36-30 rally in the next two quarters to spur ahead. Belgium limited Turkey to only 12 points in the fourth stanza and eked out a tough win at the end. Ayuba Bryant (204-F/C-2005) came up with 15 points, while Len Bastiaenssen (202-C-2004) had 12 points for the winning team. Karahan Efeoglu (201-G-2004, college: NW Florida St.) topscored with 12 points for Turkey.

Germany - Italy 67-87
Italy breezed past Germany in the first game at the tournament. The Azzurri secured a 42-39 halftime lead. They ignited a 27-14 run in the fourth period to ensure the winning outcome. Leonardo Marangon (197-F/G-2005) delivered 14 points for Italy. Kilian Brockhoff (206-F-2004) responded with 13 points for Germany.

Greece - Serbia 75-73
Greece toppled Serbia for the initial win in Gdynia. Greece poured in 23 points in the second stanza to take an 8-point halftime lead. Serbia sank 26 points in the fourth quarter but could not avoid the loss. Vangelis Zougris (202-C/F-2004) and Nikolaos Chitikoudis (206-F-2005) produced 14 points each for the Hellenes. Ilija Milijasevic (190-G-2004) provided 17 points for Serbia.

Israel - Czech Republic 82-74
Israel held off Czech Republic for the opening win in Gdynia. Israel posted a 50-35 halftime lead. They protected the advantage throughout the second half and raced to the win. Eyal Harel (198-G-2004) delivered 16 points, while Alon Michaeli (204-C/F-2005, agency: Avi Zilberman) added 15 points for Israel. Milan Stranel (201-F-2005) answered with 21 points for Czech Republic.

Spain - North Macedonia 93-38
Spain thumped North Macedonia for the first win in Group C. Spain fired to a 48-13 halftime lead. They kept North Macedonia at bay throughout the second half and breezed to the victory. Izan Almansa (208-PF-2005) and Lucas Langarita (192-SG-2005) scored 14 points each for Spain. Petar Boshaleski (192-SG-2004) had 7 points for North Macedonia.

Lithuania - Iceland 93-63
Paulius Murauskas (203-F-2004) scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Lithuania past Iceland. The Baltic team recorded a 52-21 halftime lead and never looked back en route to the win. Motiejus Krivas (218-C-2004) had 17 points and 10 rebounds for Lithuania. Tomas Thrastarson (197-G-2005, agency: Blacktop Management) accounted for 11 points for Iceland.