By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
The action spilled into a third extra period for the third time in the history of the Basketball Champions League with Hapoel Holon getting the job done in Athens.
Behind closed doors for security reasons, the Israeli club earned a narrow win over AEK Betsson, 112-108, on Tuesday.
Debuting in the Champions League, Tahjere McCall missed two free throws with 4.6 seconds remaining in regulation and a chance to break a tie. Returning the favor with 2.4 seconds on the clock, Chasson Randle missed one out of two shots from the charity stripe. Adding to the drama besides mishandling apparent game-winning opportunities from both ends, a 10-0 run capped off by team captain Niv Misgav sinking both free throws with 3.3 seconds left in the second overtime saved Holon and forced a third overtime.
Carrying momentum into the next extra period and going up to 2-2 in Group L of the Round of 16 with a third consecutive BCL win opposite AEK signaled elimination for the hosts of the Gameday 4 contest. The former BCL champions fell to 0-4 with a fifth straight continental loss and were knocked out of contention for a spot in the Quarterfinals.
Mindaugas Kuzminskas producing a career-high 40 points was not enough for the team coached by Ilias Zouros. The Lithuanian forward tallied 13 points in the fourth quarter and put up 19 more points over the 15 extra minutes. He ended up with the most points scored in a single game of the 2023-24 installment of the Champions League.
All eight players stepping on the court for the team guided by Amit Sherf registered at least ten points. Drew Crawford stood out with 19 points. Yotam Hanochi followed with a season-high 17 points. Deondre Burns and Misgav chipped in 16 points apiece. Justin Smith, Shawn Dawson, C.J. Harris, and Netanel Artzi were sidelined.
For the Queen, former NBA champion Jordan McRae set his individual best for the 2023-24 campaign at 27 points. Injured Justin Tillman and Dimitris Flionis were out along with Alfis Pilavios and Manolis Mataliotakis.
Postgame press conference
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League