Hapoel Jerusalem opened up their home slate with an easy 85-55 win over Ironi Nahariya. After a close first quarter, the Reds began to pull away right before halftime thanks to J’Covan Brown coming on to jumpstart the offense. The same Brown continued his hot hand in the third quarter to help Oded Katash’s squad run away with the thirty point victory.

Brown led the way for Jerusalem with 11 points, 9 assists and a plus/minus of 46. Suleiman Braimoh added 12 points, Bar Timor and Idan Zalmanson each chipped in with 11 points while Nimrod Levi scored 10 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in the victory. Jeff Adrien was Nahariya’s leading scorer with 17 points.

Maccabi Tel Aviv dropped Nes Ziona 91-68 ahead of their Euroleague clash with Valencia on Thursday night. Yovel Zoosman starred for the Yellow & Blue with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists while Jake Cohen and Tarik Black added 13 points each in the victory. Corey Fisher & Jeff Withey scored 15 points a piece for Nes Ziona.

Hapoel Gilboa/Galil disposed of Hapoel Holon in overtime 95-88 up in the Galilee. Lior Lubin’s Gilboa squad controlled the tempo of the game throughout the contest but some late game heroics helped Sharon Drucker’s side score the last 7 points in regulation time to send the clash into the extra session all knotted up at 83-83.

However, Yiftach Ziv and Jamar Gulley gave the home crowd what to cheer for as they combined for ten points to take the victory. Justin Tillman scored 25 points and added 10 rebounds, Gulley dropped 19 points and Ziv added 14 points and 5 steals in the win. Malachi Richardson and Marcus Foster each scored 19 points for Holon who signed naturalized Israeli big man Rich Howell following the game to bolster their lineup.

Maccabi Rishon Le’Zion held Maccabi Haifa to just six 4th quarter points to defeat the Greens 62-54. Alexander Hamilton continued his fine play of late with 20 points, Johnathan Williams added 16 points and 18 rebounds and Jordan Swing chipped in with 14 points in the victory. James Young led Haifa in the loss with 19 points.

Spencer Weisz drained a pair of free throws to give Hapoel Beer Sheva a 88-87 comeback win over Hapoel Eilat to notch their first victory of the season. The Red Sea side led throughout the contest but a furious comeback sparked by Weisz and Da’Sean Butler gave Rami Hadar’s squad the hard earned win. Weisz scored 21 points and dished out 9 assists, TJ Williams added 22 points while Steven Zack chipped in with 19 points and Butler with 18 points in the win. Eric Thompson led Eilat with 21 points and Jared Terrell had 20 points in the loss.

Maccabi Ashdod downed struggling Hapoel Tel Aviv 83-76 as Lior Eliyahu starred with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists while Elijah Johnson drilled home seven 3-pointers for 23 points in the victory. Desi Rodriguez scored 15 points for Tel Aviv.