Maccabi downs Milan 69:63

Maccabi Fox Tel Aviv improved their record to 14:6 in the EuroLeague after a tough fought 69:63 home victory over Ettore Messina’s AX Armani Exchange Milano. Scottie Wilbekin was fantastic in the second half finishing the night with 22 points, Othello Hunter dominated inside the paint scoring 14 points and grabbing 14 rebounds while Dorsey continued tearing it up from outside, adding 14. 

Maccabi opened the game with Scottie Wilbekin, Yovel Zoosman, Angelo Caloiaro, Quincy Acy, and Othello Hunter in the starting five. Like the past two home games, the Yellow & Blue had trouble at the get-go as the visitors scored 8 unanswered points for an 8:0 lead. Wilbekin scored 5 points, Zoosman drove nicely to the basket, and an Elijah Bryant three-pointer layup cut down the lead, however, Nemanja Nedovic was in charge keeping the Italian squad up in front, 15:21 after 10 minutes.

The second quarter started similarly to the first period, Milan went up by 9 points, but then, coach Sfairopoulos called Tyler Dorsey off the bench who helped bring Maccabi within 2, 23:25. Entering the final minute, Acy minimized the lead to 1 with a corner three, and Wilbekin had a chance to give Maccabi their first lead of the half but missed. 31:32 at halftime.

Wilbekin gave the hosts its first lead of the night with a 4-point play, Dorsey extended the advantage as part of a 14:4 run to put the Yellow & Blue on top, 45:36. Coach Messina called a timeout, and Michael Roll was in charge of stopping the momentum, as Nedovic continued to be the Italians top-scoring producer reducing the lead down to 4, 52:48.

The final quarter opened in Maccabi’s command that built a 9 point advantage. However, Milan didn’t say the last word as Sykes responded with a triple. Maccabi put the ball in Wilbekin’s hands who drilled shots from deep, scoring 17 points in the second half that gave the Yellow & Blue their 10th straight home EuroLeague win.