By Amy Samin
After trailing by 21 early in the game, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv came back to defeat Maccabi Haifa 74-70 at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv. Devin Smith led the way with 20 points and 8 rebounds, and Alex Tyus added a key 15 points and 10 rebounds. Yogev Ohayon contributed 10 points and Sylven Landesberg scored 9 points. Jeremy Pargo made 7 assists.
Yogev Ohayon, Devin, Smith, Joe Alexander, Jeremy Pargo, and Jake Cohen were Maccabi's starters. Haifa got off to a better start than the hosts, running to a 15-4 lead by the middle of the period. Maccabi managed to add points from the foul line, but Haifa continued to play well and the period ended with the guests leading 26-11.
The visitors continued to set the pace in the second quarter, extending their lead to 33-12 until five straight points by Smith put Maccabi back into the game. Haifa continued to get around Maccabi's defense, though, and again opened their lead up to near 20, 37-19 with three and a half minutes left in the half. Threes by Smith and Ohayon and a dunk by Tyus off an alley oop from Pargo helped Maccabi cut their deficit to only five, 41-36 going into the break.
The second half opened with another trey by Smith, while Pargo added a bucket and one to tie the score at 41. Tyus in the paint gave Maccabi the lead, but Haifa wasn't ready to give up, claiming a nine point advantage 54-45. Tyus again scored in the paint,
and MarQuez Haynes from the right wing helped Maccabi get close, but the period ended with the visitors holding a 57-50 lead.
Points by Tyus and Smith made it 59-57 three minutes into the fourth quarter, and two buckets by Haynes tied the score 61-61 at the halfway mark. A triple by Smith on the left wing, points in the paint and one by Landesberg, a basket by Pargo, and a slam by Randle put Maccabi up 71-63 with less than two minutes left in the game. The visitors weren't ready to give up and continued to battle for points, but in the end Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv came away with a 74-70 win over Maccabi Haifa.