Krunoslav Simon exploded for 29 points as KK Zagreb cruised to a 71-61 win over BC Kyiv in their EuroChallenge Group H clash.

Simon made six of 10 shots from three-point range and scored the bulk of his points early to take the wind out of Kyiv's challenge.

Ante Tomic was the only other Zagreb player to score in double figures, coming up big at both ends with 18 points and 16 rebounds, but no one else was needed.

After racing out to a 12-2 start, Zagreb let Kyiv back into the contest briefly, as they closed the gap to three at 21-18 on Oleg Saltovets' jump-shot.

But Zagreb responded with an 8-0 run and held the visitors at arm's length the rest of the way, their biggest lead coming when Simon's three-pointer put them on top 52:36 ahead with 3:18 to go in the third quarter.

That took Simon to 25 points on the night and the damage was done for Kyiv.

Denys Lukashov was the only Kyiv player to score in double figures with 19 point.

Coaches and players quotes

Vitaliy Cherniy, BC Kyiv head coach:
"This is our worst game in this season in this competition. We did not play like we did in the past three games. We can do much better and I hope we'll show it in the next two rounds. The only goal for my players was to defend the 13 points difference from Kyiv what could be seen in our game."

Denis Bajramovic, KK Zagreb head coach:
"A day before the game, at the press conference, I said that the most important thing was to win. We did it and we deserved it. Considering the follow up of the group placements, we missed the chance to win with more than 13 points. I regret we missed our chance in the first half to realise several attacks. We played a good defence but the difference was not enough. Prkačin in defence, and Simon in offence, played excellently but it was not enough to win with more than 10 points."