Two exhibition games took place last night to kick off the inaugural Russell Cup season.

For the first game, the home team [76ers] ran a lineup of A.C. Abass III, Nick Riley, Edward Boama, Leo Gagnon, and Archie Hermann. They squared up against the Bucks, featuring Miles Winston, J.J Ridel Jr., Rasheed Green, Kenan Kurt, and Prince Jordan. The game was a shootout, with both teams shooting a combined average of 57.5%. The home team took the edge in the first game 89-77, featuring a standout performance from Leo Gagnon. Scoring a blistering 42 points, Gagnon lead his team to victory while also chipping in 5 boards and 7 assists. A.C. Abass contributed a game-high 8 dimes, while Nick Riley and Archie Hermann excelled within the painted area. On the away side, JJR dropped in a team-high 23 points, ahead of a 20-point performance from Kenan Kurt which included 3 steals. Rasheed Green contributed a game-high 5 steals.

In the second game, the teams switched sides, with the newly anointed home team [Bucks] replacing Marcus Winston with soon-to-be breakout prospect Sean Burgess. The 76ers, on the road with the same lineup, were able to grind out a 4th quarter victory after a tighter 24 minutes and were rewarded with a 74-63 win. Nick Riley and Leo Gagnon perfectly shared a combined 48-point effort, while Archie Hermann continued to contribute from the inside. Despite the loss, Sean Burgess stood out as a bright spot for the Bucks. A game-high 27-point performance led the team by a large margin, including 4 rebounds and a couple of assists and steals. Unfortunate for the home team was J.J. Ridel Jr., who shot a disappointing 1-of-6 for a game-low 3 points.

As the league looks forward to more games, one may wonder how the games that have already taken place will impact the draft within the next few days.