Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv improved their Euroleague record to 2-1 with an 84-69 victory over Alba Berlin in Germany. Randle led Maccabi with 25 points, Smith contributed 16 points, and Pargo was impressive with a double double of 15 points and 10 assists.
By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv improved their Euroleague record to 2-1 with an 84-69 victory over Alba Berlin in Germany. Brian Randle led Maccabi with 25 points, Devin Smith contributed 16 points, and Jeremy Pargo was impressive with a double double of 15 points and 10 assists. Guy Pnini and Alex Tyus scored 10 points apiece.
Starters for Maccabi were Jeremy Pargo, Devin Smith, Yogev Ohayon, Sofo Schortsanitis and Brian Randle. Maccabi looked great in the first period, running to 8-4 after three minutes thanks to triples by Smith (assist Pargo) and Randle. Pargo and Alex Tyus got into the groove with points, assists and blocks, and a three by Guy Pnini ended the period with the visitors leading 23-16.
Berlin quickly narrowed the gap at the start of the second quarter, 23-20 after a minute and a half. Sofo, Pnini and Ohayon went to work, opening up a 32-20 lead that increased to 40-20 thanks to points from downtown by Randle and Pargo and a slick behind the back pass in the paint from Pargo to Tyus for the slam. Maccabi continued to cruise on offense and shut down Berlin on defense, and the half ended with Maccabi leading 46-29.
The second half got off to a slow start, but an incredible one handed dunk by Tyus off the oop by Pargo got things started. Randle added more points from downtown and again from inside the paint, putting Maccabi up 58-34 close to the halfway mark. Maccabi eased up on both ends of the court in the second portion of the period, and Alba closed to 63-46 as the quarter came to an end.
Berlin continued to fight, keeping their deficit at no more than fifteen – 74-59 five minutes into the final period. Pargo added another dazzling behind the back pass, this time finding Smith in the left corner, 79-63 with three and a half minutes remaining. In the end, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv came away with an 84-69 victory over Alba Berlin.
