By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Hapoel Tel Aviv saw a 22-point lead getting almost obliterated down the stretch before beating Reyer Venezia 90 – 80 to advance to the EuroCup quarterfinals.
Venezia trailed 77 – 55 entering the fourth period but showed some top-notch survival instincts to make a 3-20 run and cut that deficit to 80 – 75 with 3:16 remaining. Chinanu Onuaku scored four straight points to keep Hapoel at a safe distance but a triple by Jayson Granger and a bucket by Alessio Tessitori made it 84 – 80 with a minute to play.
J’ Covan Brown took it on him and hit a decisive layup. Granger drove to the basket, asking for a foul on a missed attempt while on the other end, two free throws by Xavier Munford secured the qualification for Hapoel.
Munford was the top contributor out of a balanced Hapoel effort with 13 points plus nine rebounds. Bar Timor also scored 13 while Brown provided 12 points plus eight assists.
Granger dropped a team-high 18 points for Venezia and Derek Willis scored 16 points and grabbed five rebounds.
Photo: EuroCup Basketball