By Amy Samin
Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv fell to Ironi Nahariya on the road, 86-85. Sylven Landesberg led Maccabi's scorers with 25 points. Itay Segev added 14 points and 9 rebounds, and Devin Smith contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Maccabi's starters were Devin Smith, Gal Mekel, Taylor Rochester, Ike Ofoegbu, and Dragan Bender. Nahariya, led by Umeh, ran to 15-8 in the first five minutes of the game. The hosts continued to score from all over the court, increasing their lead to double digits, 21-11. Maccabi couldn't find a way to stop Umeh, who with his fourth three pointer of the period made it 29-17 to Nahariya after ten minutes.
A triple by Dagan Yivzori put Maccabi's deficit under ten points at the start of the second quarter, and Sylven Landesberg went on a rampage, scoring from all over the court to put Maccabi within two, 38-36 halfway through the period. More points from Landesberg, and Mekel on a fast break, put Maccabi in the lead, 43-41 with three minutes left in the half. Nahariya stayed close, but points from Ofoegbu from the foul line made it 48-45 Maccabi going into the break.
Umeh and Nahariya wasted no time, tying the score at 50 two minutes into the second half. Landesberg responded from downtown, but Umeh dropped his seventh three pointer to tie the score again. Itay Segev scored twice in the paint, and Landesberg and Ohayon also scored to end the third quarter with Maccabi up 64-61.
The hosts opened strong in the fourth quarter and claimed a 65-64 lead after two minutes. Despite points by Ohayon, Segev, and Smith, Maccabi could not reclaim the lead until Landesberg made it 83-82 Maccabi from the charity stripe with :42 on the clock. Free throws by Mekel increased the lead but Nahariya scored. A turnover by Rochestie resulted in Nahariya scoring the game winning bucket as time ran out; 86-85 to Ironi Nahariya over Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv.