The hosts imposed their will throughout the game enroute of a home win dropping Maccabi to a 9:12 record. Wilbekin (19P & 4A) led the scorers in yellow and blue
Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv wanted to keep their winning streak in the EuroLeague alive as they faced Baskonia. The hosts took the early lead and managed to impose their will and control the tempo throughout the game as they secured the home win. The squad in yellow and blue will start to prepare to their next game against Holon on Sunday (21:00) local.
Coach Sfairopoulos' starting five: Pargo, Wilbekin, Caloiaro, O'Bryant and Black. Scottie was the first to score in the game, the locals reacted but Black kept Maccabi ahead 5:6. Vildoza and Voigtmann completed a 5:0 run as Baskonia took the 14:8 lead. Scottie scored back to back threes to keep the squad in yellow and blue close (17:14). The locals capitalized on the offensive end increasing their lead to finish the first quarter strong having the 26:18 lead.
Hilliard completed the three point play at the beginning of the second quarter sparking a 7:2 run for the Basques who took the 33:20 lead. The hosts continued shooting the lights out with the scoreboard showing 43:24. Johnny and Scottie scored back to back threes as the yellows trimmed Baskonia's lead forcing coach Perasovic to call for a timeout (43:30). The locals kept their lead until the end of the first half having the 54:41 lead.
Baskonia started the third quarter with a 10:2 run forcing coach Sfairopoulos to call for a timeout (64:43). Baskonia kept imposing their will on both ends of the court as they increased their lead to 73:49. Maccabi struggled to score and the locals took advantage time and again taking the 81:57 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Hilliard and Diop scored from the free throw line but Deni Avdija reacted with back to back threes with the yellows going on damage control (85:63). The yellows managed to get stops cutting down the locals lead to 88:70 with 05:27 remaining in the game. The locals didn't panic and kept their composure until the end as they secured the 97:73 home win over Maccabi.