By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv's record in the Euroleague improved to 4-2 after they defeated Limoges 79-73 in France. Sylven Landesberg scored a personal-best 22 points and took 9 rebounds. Points in money time by Jeremy Pargo (13 points, 6 assists) guaranteed the win for Maccabi, while team captain Yogev Ohayon took a team-record 8 steals and contributed 11 points and 6 assists.
Maccabi's starters were MarQuez Haynes, Devin Smith, Jake Cohen, Yogev Ohayon, and Sofo Schortsanitis. Maccabi got off to a great start and ran to 15-6 in the first four minutes, with points by Ohayon, Cohen and Tyus. Limoges downed a slew of three pointers to take a 21-19 lead by the end of the period.
Haynes and Sylven Landesberg scored on fast breaks to kick off the second quarter, putting Maccabi back on top 27-21. Once again the hosts came alive and reclaimed the lead, but Smith, Landesberg, and Tyus gave the lead back to Maccabi, 42-35 as the teams went into the halftime break.
Ohayon and Cohen combined to take Maccabi to 53-35 with an 11-0 run that included multiple steals by Yogev and lasted until the halfway mark in the third quarter. Landesberg also added points with a three from the left corner, but Limoges finally started scoring again, and a Hail Mary shot from almost full court by Westermann put the hosts within nine, 57-48.
The momentum stayed with the French despite points by Smith, Pargo and Haynes (from downtown), and the home team once again grabbed the lead, 66-64 halfway through the final period. Landesberg, in his best Euroleague game to date, scored two straight triples to put Maccabi back on top. Limoges clawed their way to a one point lead with a minute on the clock, but Pargo drained a fadeaway jumper before adding a layup and points from the foul line to give Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv a 79-73 victory over Limoges.