Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated Wolves 89-81 as five Reds scored in double digits to notch the win and move their EuroCup record to 8-2 on the season. The hosts kept the game close throughout the 40 minutes but Jaylen Hoard, Braian Angola and Xavier Munford spurred Danny Franco’s squad to the victory.

Braian Angola, Kyle Alexander and Jaylen Hoard with a pair of dunks got busy for Hapoel Tel Aviv while Garrison Brooks responded for Wolves as the Reds grabbed an early 19-17 lead after ten minutes of play. Xavier Munford caught fire while also going to the line for a perfect 8/8 as Tre’Shawn Thurman, Christian Mekowulu and Eidgirdas Zukauskas tried to keep the hosts close but Danny Franco’s team took a 46-38 advantage into halftime.

Angola and Hoard along with Tomer Ginat found the bottom of the basket in the third quarter, but Thurman and Kristupas Zemaitis responded to knot the game up at 62-62 after thirty minutes of action. Angola kept filling the basket in the fourth quarter as a well balanced attack led by Thurman made sure that the game would be close right down to the wire, as Hoard and Vaidas Kariniauskas traded buckets but Ginat came up big as time wound down to help Hapoel to the win.

Hoard led the way with 20 points, Angola added 18 points and Munford scored 16 points in the win. Thurman and Mekowulu each scored 14 points in the loss.

“This win was important for us in the standings,” Danny Franco said. “We have picked up so many wins despite not being able to practice properly due to the games back in Israel, but I have to take off my hat and give credit to the players how they performed. They are focussed and driven to win.”

The game MVP Jaylen Hoard spoke about the game, “We did a better job defensively and made some big plays down the stretch but it was a tough game and I am happy we won. We feel good but there are a lot of things that we have to get better at and that we need to work on at practice where we will fix up some things.”