By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Also taking a look at what was happening in Greece, where Peristeri was looking for a must-needed victory over already qualified Lenovo Tenerife, Hapoel Jerusalem needed to win on the road against Pinar Karsiyaka.
However, the already eliminated Turkish side had the better of the red-and-black opponents, winning 98-87 on SD Laktaši’s neutral court in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Errick McCollum, who was leading the competition this season in points off the bench, having scored 180 before the game against Hapoel Jerusalem, was essential for Ufuk Sarica’s team with 20 points (7/7 FT) once again not starting the game from the beginning.
Saying goodbye to the Basketball Champions League after an amazing rookie season in the competition, Vernon Carey Jr. had another dominant showing with 17 points and 7 rebounds, shooting 8/11 from the field. Vitto and Jaylon Brown combined for 31 points in the win.
Suffering heavy runs from Pinar Karsiyaka in the first (30-19) and fourth (30-22) quarters, the Israeli side didn’t fight back. Double-doubles from Speedy Smith (13 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists) and Zach Hankins (18 points and 11 rebounds) weren’t enough for last year’s Basketball Champions League runner-ups.
Ending the Regular Season by dominating Group G with an X-X record, everybody was expecting Hapoel Jerusalem to make it all the way to the Final Four, whose location will be announced on Thursday 21st of March. However, they collapsed with an unexpected elimination.
PHOTO CREDIT: Basketball Champions League