By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Coming off the crazy and thrilling victory on the road in Greece against Peristeri, decided by Speedy Smith’s clutch three-point buzzer beater, Hapoel Jerusalem extended its winning streak in the Basketball Champions League to five games by surviving against Pinar Karsiyaka 83-74.
Joining the club midway through the season, JaCorey Williams was the highest scorer on Ilias Kantzouris’ team with 15 points, shooting perfectly from the field (7/7) against the Turkish side. He came off the bench to share minutes with Zach Hankins, who went close to a double-double with 10 points and 8 rebounds.
Speedy Smith, Hapoel Jerusalem’s hero to start the Round of 16, had another impressive night and almost did the same at 9 points and 12 assists. The American duo of Khadeen Carrington and Levi Randolph combined for 29 points with 11/19 from the field.
Despite the huge night for the Israeli team’s centers, Vernon Carey Jr. – who was averaging 20.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game on the road in the BCL before this game – had yet again another pretty good showing by ending the game with 18 points and 6 rebounds. Darrun Hilliard also led his team scoring-wise with 18 points, while Errick McCollum went close to a double-double at 15 points and 7 dimes.
After trailing by 13 points (59-46) late in the third quarter, the Turkish team restored balance in the final stretch, but Hapoel Jerusalem still found the win in Belgrade. Pinar Karsiyaka seems to be hopeless when it comes to away games in the Basketball Champions League, being now 0-11 in such matters.
Last year’s runner-up, instead, has definitely found the right head coach to replace Aleksandar Dzikic, as Ilias Kantzouris has now won 10 games in which his team was trailing at half-time – five more than any other in the Basketball Champions League since he joined in 2022-23.
PHOTO CREDIT: Basketball Champions League
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