By Amy Samin

In a tough game on the road, without Devin Smith and Alex Tyus, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv fell to CSKA Moscow 100-65 in Week 7 of the Euroleague Top 16, and their record fell to 5-2. Top scorers for Maccabi were Joe Ingles with 13 points, Sofo Schortsanitis with 12 points, and Guy Pnini with 11 points. Before the game, head coach David Blatt received the prestigious Order of Friendship from the Russian government for his contribution to the country with the Russian National Basketball Team.

Starters for Maccabi were Ricky Hickman, Joe Ingles, Guy Pnini, Yogev Ohayon and Sofo Schortsanitis. Maccabi opened with four three pointers by Ingles and Pnini on the way to a 14-10 lead after four minutes. The Russians responded with a 7-0 run that put them in the lead, 17-14. Four points by Tyrese Rice put Maccabi back on top but the hosts reclaimed it, running to  24-18. A three by David Blu helped close the gap, but the period ended with the score 26-21, CSKA.

The second quarter started with a 9-0 run by CSKA that put Maccabi’s deficit at 35-21 after three minutes. Sofo in the paint and Hickman from the foul line cut that to 39-30 halfway through the period. Maccabi continued to press on defense, while Pnini added another three from the corner and a bucket and 1 by Hickman slashed the hosts’ lead to six, 44-38 with less than a minute left. Sonny Weems responded for CSKA, and the teams went into the break with the score 47-40.

Sofo made it a five point game at the start of the third quarter, but CSKA scored 8 unanswered points and grabbed a 55-42 lead halfway through the period. A trio of layups didn’t help Maccabi much, and with three minutes left in the period the hosts led 60-48. Maccabi couldn’t get their offense in gear, and the period ended with the Russians leading 70-52.

Ingles scored from the right corner to kick off the fourth quarter, but the Russians continued to roll over Maccabi’s defense. Sylven Landesberg added points and an assist to Ingles, but halfway through the period the hosts led 81-62. A trey by Landesberg was the only response Maccabi had in the closing minutes, and in the end CSKA Moscow rolled to a 100-65 victory over Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv.