By Amy Samin
Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv wrapped up their training camp with a 77-62 victory against Villeurbanne in the Pro Stars tournament in Angers, France. Jordan Farmar led all scorers with 22 points (4 of 6 from 3) and was named MVP of the tournament. Brian Randle added 12 points, while Trevor Mbakwe (5 of 5 from the field) and Dragan Bender contributed 11 points each.
Starters for Maccabi were Brian Randle, Jordan Farmar, Devin Smith, Trevor Mbakwe and Taylor Rochestie. Maccabi got off to a fantastic start, running 11-0 in the first two minutes of the game, thanks mainly to Randle, Farmar and Mbakwe. By the middle of the period Villeurbanne had gotten into the game, closing to 13-10. Dragan Bender and Farmar kept the French at a distance, upping Maccabi's lead to double figures, 22-12 with three minutes left in the quarter. A bucket and one by Rochestie and a dunk by Farmar made it 28-21.
Both teams struggled to find the basket as the second quarter got underway, and the score was only 29-22 after four minutes of action. A dunk by Mbakwe put Maccabi's lead at nine, but once again the French narrowed the gap, closing to 31-27 halfway through the period. Farmar and Virot Faverani added points for the yellows, but Villeurbanne continued to cut into Maccabi's lead until they were only four points down. Farmar stepped up, and Maccabi claimed a 43-33 lead going into the halftime break.
Villeurbanne was on fire at the start of the second half, ripping through a 15-0 run that put them up 48-43 after eight minutes. Rochestie and Bender scored from downtown to get Maccabi back into the game, with the score 52-51 to the French heading in to the final quarter.
Seven straight points by Farmar, alongside contributions by Mbakwe in the paint and Smith from outside the arc, put Maccabi back on top 67-54 four minutes into the final period on a 16-2 scoring run. The French weren't ready to concede the game, and battled their way to 67-62 with four minutes on the clock. Yogev Ohayon, Bender, and Randle got the job done in the final minutes, and Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv claimed a 77-62 victory over Villeurbanne to win the Pro Stars tournament in Angers.
Boxscore
Farmar 22 points (4 of 6 from downtown), Randle 12 points; Mbakwe (5 of 5 from 2) and Dragan Bender 11 points each; Smith 6 points; Rochestie 5 points; Ohayon 4 points; Faverani 4 points; Pnini 2 points.