The evening began with an exciting and emotional ceremony in honor of Vujcic, the centerpiece of which was a touching video featuring a dazzling array of blessings and good wishes from former teammates as well as highlights from Vujcic\u2019s career with Maccabi. Arroyo, White, Burstein, Williams and Fischer opened the game for Maccabi, while Olympiacos started with Childress, Vujcic, Milosevic, Bourousis and Halperin.<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P> <\/FONT><\/SPAN> The game opened with both teams strong on defense, less so on offense. The Greeks tried to nibble away at that lead at the start of the second quarter, but were met by a strong Maccabi defense. The Greeks continued to feed the ball to Schortsanitis, who had a chain of fouls called in his favor in what looked like a European version of the \u201cHack-a-Shaq\u201d technique (deliberate fouls against a player known for his poor free throw shooting). Maccabi opened the fourth quarter aggressively, but were met with three point shots from each of their former teammates, Vujcic and Halperin, which brought the score to 59 \u2013 54 two minutes into the quarter. Maccabi stayed strong on defense in the final minutes of the quarter, but shots by Arroyo and his teammates failed to find the net. The visitors opened the overtime period with a 5 \u2013 0 scoring run, which Maccabi failed to score and made several turnovers. Scores: For Maccabi: Arroyo 14 points, White, Batista and Fischer 12 points each, Williams 11 points, Eliyahu and Simmons 5 points each, Burstein 3 points.
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<\/SPAN>Even Moni Fanan made an appearance on the court in order to offer Nikola his good wishes and bestow his traditional kiss.
<\/SPAN>A teary-eyed Vujcic said a few words of appreciation and thanks.
<\/SPAN>In the moments before the game began, Nikola and the crowd watched his yellow jersey, number 7, be raised to the rafters in honor of the great center.
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<\/SPAN>Four minutes into the quarter, Olympiacos had a small lead, 8 \u2013 5, until a three pointer by Arroyo and a dunk by Williams put the home team ahead of the visitors, 10 \u2013 9 with 4 minutes left in the quarter.
<\/SPAN>Maccabi continued to play effectively, and head coach Efy Birenboim was able to utilize almost every player on the team during the course of the quarter.
<\/SPAN>Maccabi maintained their lead, and after a three pointer by Simmons and a successful drive to the basket by Arroyo, the score stood at 21 \u2013 11 in favor of Maccabi with a minute left in the quarter.
<\/SPAN>A few isolated points by the Greeks closed the lead to 21 \u2013 14 at the end of the quarter.
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<\/SPAN>Three minutes into the quarter the home team maintained the lead, 24 \u2013 18.
<\/SPAN>A weakening by Maccabi under the basket and on defensive rebounds enabled Erceg and his teammates to close Maccabi\u2019s lead to 26 \u2013 22 with three minutes left in the half.
<\/SPAN>When the Greeks put their big man, Schortsanitis, into the game chaos under the Maccabi basket quickly followed.
<\/SPAN>Green was called for three quick fouls against the intimidating center, and Maccabi\u2019s lead was down to one point: 28 \u2013 27 with a minute and a half left until halftime.
<\/SPAN>The paralysis that gripped the Maccabi players helped the Greeks take the lead for the first time in the quarter, until Casspi scored two points from the free throw line, tying the game 32 \u2013 32 at the end of the half.
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<\/SPAN>Maccabi\u2019s offense took off again, with a three pointer by Burstein off a brilliant assist by Arroyo giving the home team a 42 \u2013 39 lead, three and a half minutes into the quarter.
<\/SPAN>But Maccabi lost their momentum, and Olympiacos enjoyed a scoring run of several minutes\u2019 duration, capped by a three pointer by Greer, which gave the Greeks a 46 \u2013 43 lead with just three and a half minutes left in the quarter.
<\/SPAN>Maccabi was able to tie the game, but a three point shot by Teodosic reinstated a Greek lead, 53 \u2013 50 at the end of the quarter.
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<\/SPAN>Renewed strength on offense brought Maccabi back into the game, closing the visitor\u2019s lead to one point until another scoring run by the Greeks opened the gap again.
<\/SPAN>Points scored by Erceg after an offensive rebound put the score at 68 \u2013 62 in favor of Olympiacos with four minutes left in the game.
<\/SPAN>But Maccabi pressed hard on defense and stopped the Greeks\u2019 scoring run, while starting one of their own.
<\/SPAN>Points scored by White brought the game to a 68 \u2013 68 tie with two minutes left in the game.
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<\/SPAN>With seconds left in the game, on the Greeks\u2019 final offensive play Greer drove to the basket where he was stopped in his tracks by a magnificent block by Fischer.
<\/SPAN>With less than a second left in the game, Maccabi was unable to score the game-ending basket and the game ended with the score tied at 68.
<\/SPAN>Maccabi and Olympiacos were headed for overtime.
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<\/SPAN>With the overtime at the half-way mark of two and a half minutes, the score stood at 75 \u2013 70.
<\/SPAN>Two beautiful plays by Arroyo and a run of 5 points for the point guard brought the score to 77 \u2013 75 with a minute and a half left in overtime.
<\/SPAN>Arroyo kept Maccabi in the game with another two points scored, and Maccabi closed Olympiacos\u2019 lead to 78 \u2013 77 with thirty seconds remaining on the clock.
<\/SPAN>A missed shot by Vujcic gave the home team the opportunity to win the game, but Casspi\u2019s shot failed to find the basket.
<\/SPAN>Childress took charge of the rebound and benefited from a flagrant foul called against Maccabi, which resulted in two points for the Greeks and kept the ball in the hands of Olympiacos.
<\/SPAN>Maccabi never had another opportunity to score, and the game ended with a Greek victory, 80 \u2013 77.
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