Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv couldn’t pull out a road victory and was defeated by Partizan Belgrade 72-70 in the Serbian capital; their Top 16 record dropped to 7-4. Tyus led Maccabi’s scorers with 14 points and 11 rebounds, Sofo added 12 points.
By Amy Samin
In game 11 of the Euroleague Top 16 round, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv lost a close game against Partizan Belgrade in the Serbian capital, 72-70, after leading by ten going into the fourth quarter, and their record dropped to 7-4. Alex Tyus led Maccabi’s scorers with another double double, 14 points and 11 rebounds. Sofo Schortsanitis added 12 points and David Blu contributed 10 points.
Maccabi’s starters were Devon Smith, Ricky Hickman, Alex Tyus, Guy Pnini and Yogev Ohayon. Points by Tyus, Hickman and Ohayon gave Maccabi a 7-2 lead two minutes into the game. The hosts tried to get into the game, but great minutes by Sofo Schortsanitis with a steal and two baskets put Maccabi up 12-6 in the middle of the period. Smith added a three pointer (assist Tyrese Rice), Sofo threw in a bucket (assist David Blu) and one, and Rice scored from downtown to end the period with Maccabi leading 23-14.
Two straight triples by Blu got things started in the second quarter, and after two minutes of action Maccabi led 29-14. Partizan was able to chip away at the deficit, but a drive to the basket by Hickman made it 33-21 halfway through the period. The hosts slashed Maccabi’s lead to only seven after two three pointers by Bogdanovic, but a trey by Sylven Landesberg on the right wing ended the half with Maccabi up 40-31.
The third period got off to a slow start, but Partizan managed to pull within six, 42-36 after three minutes. A steal + dunk by Smith and points from outside the arc by Pnini got Maccabi back on track, 47-38 five minutes into the quarter. Neither team sank their shots from the field, but Sofo and Blu added points from the foul line to keep Maccabi’s lead comfortable, 53-43 with a minute and a half left in the period. The hosts continued to score, but two putbacks by Tyus ended the quarter with Maccabi leading 57-47.
Partizan went on an 8-0 run at the start of the final period that wasn’t cut off until Tyus scored to make it 59-55 after three minutes of play. It wasn’t long before Partizan put together another string of buckets that tied the score at 62 just past the halfway mark in the quarter. The game stayed close for the next several minutes, until Partizan reclaimed the lead with :23 on the clock. Maccabi was able to close within two, but Pnini’s last second Hail Mary shot from downtown rattled in and out of the basket and Partizan Belgrade came away with a 72-70 win over Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv.
