Hapoel Tel Aviv walloped Besiktas 100-82 to get back onto the winning track as five reds finished in double digits to move their record to 3-2 on the season. Amir Coffey and Vasilije Mimcic had the hot hand early on while Ante Zizic and Wenyen Gabriel responded, but Zach LeDay broke the game open in the second half while Antonio Blakeney and Elijah Bryant scored to both the win.

Micic and Bryant each had 16 points while Coffey, LeDay and Blakeney all dropped 15 points each in the victory while Zizic scored 17 points, Eugene Omoruyi added 12 points and Gabriel put in 10 points in the loss.

Hapoel Head Coach Dimitrios Itoudis spoke about the win, “We played a pretty good game and were in control for most of it against an aggressive offensive team who shoot roughly 13 3-pointers. They have quality guys who can shoot and spread the floor. We fulfilled stopping the spot 3-pointers as Scottie Wilbekin only scored one 3-pointer and we were very good at stopping him. We wanted to identify the areas that would could take advantage of due to their aggressiveness and we were able to do so in the third quarter which we won 32-16 and set the tone for the rest of the game.”

Besiktas Head Coach Dusan Alimpijevic reflected on the game, “We had the energy and power to match up to this team for the first half. We were in the game and played some good basketball in the first half. We know how strong Hapoel is and their ambitions. The third quarter went totally wrong, they had the right approach and right energy. We had lack of people in the rotation and energy.”

Antonio Blakeney talked about the win, “It was tough and they played physical all game as they are an aggressive defensive team. It was good that we were able to move the ball and make our shots. We have to keep going as we are still learning.”

Jaylen Nowell and Wenyen Gabriel opened the scoring for Besiktas while Amir Coffey and Vasilije Micic countered for Hapoel Tel Aviv to grab a 22-18 lead after ten minutes of play. Ante Zizic and Anthony Brown scored for the Turkish squad in the second quarter as Zach LeDay and Antonio Blakeney answered for the Reds, Scottie Wilbekin hit his shots to keep the visitors close but Elijah Bryant helped Dimitrios Itoudis’s team take a 43-39 advantage into halftime.

LeDay came out strong to begin the third quarter, Eugene Omoruyi tried to keep Besiktas close, Micic filled the basket as did Blakeney and Coffey to open up a 20-point, 75-55 lead after thirty minutes of action. Nowell and Tai Odiase traded baskets to start off the final frame, Omoyuri and Gabriel tried to cut the gap, but more points from Blakeney and Coffey closed out the win.