By Amy Samin

Maccabi's hopes for the Final Four seem to be dwindling, as they came up short once again in Spain. David Logan led Maccabi's scorers with 19 points (4 of 7 from three point range); Shawn James contributed 13 points, while Ricky Hickman and Nik Caner-Medley each added 10 points. Game 3 of the series will be played on Tuesday night at Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv.

Starters for Maccabi were Devin Smith, Shawn James, Nik Caner-Medley, Ricky Hickman and Yogev Ohayon. The game got off to a very slow start; after two and a half minutes the hosts lead 4-0. Caner-Medley delivered a trey from the left wing to put Maccabi within one, but Real Madrid continued to score - halfway through the period the score was 9-3. A triple by David Logan was answered by seven straight points for Madrid, but Maccabi continued to battle to stay in the game. James scored two in the paint, and Logan scored another three pointer. An excellent pass in traffic from Hickman to Sylven Landesberg resulted in the final points of the quarter, which ended with the hosts leading 18-13.

Real Madrid added to their lead at the start of the second quarter, but Caner-Medley's offensive rebound plus assist resulted in another three pointer from Logan, who soon followed it with yet another, from the corner this time, putting Maccabi within two, 21-19 with two and a half minutes gone. Real Madrid reopened their lead to ten, but a steal and layup by Logan and a layup by Caner-Medley chipped away at the deficit. Team captain Lior Eliyahu scored and grabbed a rebound on defense, and the half ended with the hosts leading 36-28.

A three pointer by Smith early in the third quarter was answered in kind, and that set the tone for the entire quarter. Caner-Medley downed another three off a dime from Smith and a layup that broke the double-digit leadheld by the hosts, and a bucket by Hickman put Maccabi within six, 46-40 with four minutes left in the period. Real Madrid rebuilt their advantage, though, and two straight baskets by James in the paint only served to keep that lead at ten, 56-46.

The fourth quarter began as the third ended, with points by James off assists by Hickman, but once again the home team responded. Points by Hickman and Logan couldn't bring Maccabi closer as the Spaniards continued to score at will and their lead crept toward twenty, 71-53. James and Hickman scored to cut that back, but in the end Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv lost to Real Madrid 75-63 in game 2 of the Euroleague best-of-five quarterfinals. Game 3 will take place on Tuesday in Tel Aviv.

BOXSCORE

Maccabi: Logan 19 points; James 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks; Hickman 10 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds; Caner-Medley 10 points 4 rebounds, 2 assists; Smith 5 points; Landesberg, Eliyahu and Planinic 2 points each.

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