By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The trio of Curtis Jerrells, Shawn Jones and Lior Eliyahu combined for 61 points as Hapoel Jerusalem took its second EuroCup Top 16 victory by overpowering Nizhny Novgorod 98 – 76 at home.
It’s now 2-0 for the Israeli club in Group G of the second stage of the competition while their opponents, that lacked the help of key figure Ivan Strebkov, stand at a 1-1 record.
Without the Russian player (who averages 17.1 points, 5.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds), Nizhny didn’t manage to compete against its hosts’ superior firepower, save for the first quarter.
Hapoel reacted in style after falling back 17 – 22, took a double-digit lead 46 – 35 at halftime and then almost cruised to victory.
Jerrells finished the match with 21 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds while Jones dropped 21 as well, plus grabbing 9 boards. Eliyahu added 19, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.
For the losing side, DeAndre Kane had 19 points, 8 rebounds plus 4 assists and Siim-Sander Vene 18 points.