By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The first game of Amar’e Stoudemire in the Basketball Champions League, proved to be a big win for his team Hapoel Jerusalem on the road against the reigning champions, AEK, in Athens.
The final score was 79-75 for the Israelis in the big game of Group C. Amar’e who remains also a part-owner of Hapoel, had four points and five rebounds for the winners and J`Covan Brown with 21 points was the hero of the winners.
AEK got a double-double by Vince Hunter (16 p., 10 r.) and also led at halftime by 11 points (41-31). However, the tables turned in the third quarter with Hapoel keeping AEK to 13 points and scoring 27 to take the lead (58-55).
The last period started with a 13-4 partial score (71-59) for the guests who managed to hold on for the win. Xavier Rathan-Mayes with five straight points – he had 17 in total – and Giannoulis Larentzakis with a goal-foul cut the lead to two (77-75), nine seconds before the final buzzer.
James Feldeine answered with two made free throws (78-75) after getting fouled and with four seconds left, Rathan-Mayes missed two crucial free throws. Da`Sean Butler was also fouled and made one of his shots (79-75) to seal the deal.
Photo credit: BCL