By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Scottie Wilbekin scored 25 points as Maccabi Tel Aviv beat Hapoel Haifa 85 – 76 at home. The hosts were down 39 – 54 at halftime before making the comeback that led to their win.
Maccabi greatly improved its defense in the second half to first reduce the deficit 60 – 65 at the end of the third period and then retaining this intensity to close the game on a high note.
Elijah Bryant contributed 15 points and Ante Zizic had 14 points plus five boards for Maccabi.
Keenan Evans led all Hapoel scorers with 22 points and Amit Simhon dropped 13 points. Their team had a fantastic first half but was “suffocated” by the opposing defense after the break, managing to score just 22 points in the last two periods.