By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
O’Shae Brissett, with 19 points, and Lonny Walker, with 20, led a balanced effort for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 103-90 win over Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv.
It was the first win for Maccabi in the season and the first defeat for Hapoel, which uses Sofia, Bulgaria, for their home games.
The Israeli derby was tighter than the final score might suggest, as it was only in the fourth quarter that the home team was able to establish a significant lead.
No team had real control of the game until a 0-13 run for Maccabi decided the game, as the 74-87 on the scoreboard was just too much for Hapoel.
Jeff Dowtin Jr. scored all of his 13 points in the decisive fourth quarter as Maccabi got control of the game.
Elijah Bryant and Dan Oturu tried their best, but Maccabi was able to maintain the lead in the two digits to secure a comfortable win.