Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv got a huge road win over Lokomotiv Kuban, 73-58 in week 3 of the Euroleague regular season. Ingles (10 rebounds) and Hickman (6 assists) each scored 14 points.
By Amy Samin
In week three of the Euroleague regular season, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Lokomotiv Kuban in Krasnodar, Russia, 73-58. Joe Ingles was outstanding, with a double double – 14 points and 10 rebounds. Ricky Hickman (14 points, 6 assists), Shawn James (11 points) and Sofo Schortsanitis (10 points) also scored in double figures.
Maccabi’s starters were Tyrese Rice, Devin Smith, Ricky Hickman, Joe Ingles and team captain Shawn James. Maccabi opened well with points by Ingles, Rice and James to make it 6-3, but Kuban quickly retaliated, grabbing a 7-6 lead. Smith and Ingles put things right, and Sofo Schortsanitis added a bucket and one to make it 16-8 close to the halfway mark. Kuban pulled within two but treys from David Blu and Yogev Ohayon ended the period with Maccabi leading 22-14.
The Russians closed the gap again at the start of the second quarter, 22-18, but points from Ingles, Sofo and Hickman gave Maccabi some breathing room, 33-20 with about four minutes left in the half. Maccabi kept the momentum through the end of the period, with Smith, Hickman, James and Ingles scoring. The teams went into the break with Maccabi leading 46-32.
Blu opened the third quarter with two three pointers, continuing Maccabi’s momentum, until the hosts went on a 7-0 scoring run. Sofo landed badly and had to leave the game to rest and James racked up his fourth foul. Smith and Ingles scored to keep Maccabi comfortably ahead, and the period ended with the score 60-46.
The early minutes of the final quarter went scoreless, but a putback from James and a mid-range jumper by Hickman made it 64-46 four minutes into the period. James, who went on to add a bucket and one, fouled out of the game soon after. Rice and Hickman made sure Maccabi’s lead was safe, and Kuban didn’t have a chance to make up the difference. In the end,Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Lokomotiv Kuban 73-58 in the third week of the Euroleague regular season.
BOXSCORE
Maccabi: Ingles (10 rebounds) and Hickman (6 assists) 14 points each; James 11 points; Schortsanitis 10 points; Blu 9 points; Smith 8 points; Rice 4 points; Ohayon 3 points.
Top scorers for Lokomotiv Kuban: Kalnietis 13 points; Hendrix and Zubkov 8 points each.
