Hapoel Holon fell to Nanterre 76-70 in Basketball Champions League play as their record dropped to 0-2 in the competition. Desi Rodriguez paced the French squad from the get go as Marcus Bingham and Dakarai Tucker kept the Reds close, but Justin Tillman was too strong down the stretch to help Nanterre notch the win.

Tucker scored 15 points while Bingham and Netanel Artzi each scored 14 points in the loss. Rodriguez scored 18 points, Tillman 16 points and Frank Jackson scored 10 points in the win.

“We gave a lot of energy in this game and played great defense,” Nanterre bench boss Philippe Da Silva said. We only allowed opponent score only 70 points, They are a very special team with a big man who can stretch the defense. We had 23 assists and 10 turnovers as we controlled the game.”

“We don’t feel good because we lost the game which is our second defeat,” Holon Head Coach Guy Goodes said. “This is our home court due to the security situation. It’s a big advantage for the other team to not play in front of our fans. We were a bit careless with the ball with 18 turnovers and our decisions came slowly, one step behind. If we would have concentrated on certain aspects we could have won the game. We were missing our main point guard Elijah Mitrou-Long add who will be out two weeks and maybe longer. We have to do a better job both as a team and individually.”

Desi Rodriguez, “It was important for us to get the win and we knew what we had to do for that and it starts with me with my aggressiveness. I did that in this game and got the win but we have some things to work on.”

Dakarai Tucker looked back at the game, “I think it came down to staying together and we have to stay locked in the entire game and the outcome would be in our favor if we do that.”

Desi Rodriguez and Lucas Dusoulier scored for Nanterre while Marcus Bingham and Dakarai Tucker countered for Hapoel Holon as the French squad held a slim 24-20 lead by the end of the opening frame. Justin Tillman and Lucas Fisher kept Philippe Da Silva’s team in front as Bingham and Iftach Ziv who hit a buzzer beater 3-pointer cut the advantage to 35-34 at halftime.

Benjamin Sene, Tillman and Rodriguez kept finding the basket, Idan Zalmanson and Netanel Artzi scored for the purples but an Ahmad Caver triple gave Nanterre a 56-49 lead after thirty minuets of action. Niv Misgav and Bingham kept Holon close, Tillman countered Artzi kept the pressure on but Rodriguez and Frank Jackson made sure to stay ahead as Nanterre took the win.