Maccabi Tel Aviv downed a game Hapoel Eilat 101-95 in double overtime to get back onto the winning track. The Red Sea squad played the yellow-and-blue tooth and nail throughout the 50 minutes of action as Bryon Allen shot lights out with 38 points putting Ioannis Sfairopoulos’s team on the ropes numerous times throughout the game. However, Jalen Reynolds controlled the paint over the course of the game scoring at will while Scottie Wilbekin and Roman Sorkin along with James Nunnally scored critical buckets down the stretch to finally hand the hosts the victory.

“I want to congratulate the players for the win and it was not easy,” Ioannis Sfairopoulos said following the game. “It was very interesting for the fans. We started the game really well and played very good defense allowing only 11 points in the first quarter but when we got the lead 9-10-11 we relaxed and in the fourth period they scored a lot of tough shots, 4 or 5 and they got the lead. After that we changed the defense and doubled teamed Bryon Allen who was their best scorer.”

“Slowly, slowly we broke Eilat who were very good and we won the game in the second overtime. This is a very important win and we will keep learning that we have to be more consistent both offensively and defensively. I want congratulate Eilat and their coach.”

Maccabi raced out to an early first quarter lead thanks to solid defense but Eilat began to chip away at the advantage as Allen kept hitting his shots from deep. Roi Huber began to heat up for the visitors while Nunnally did the same for the hosts as the game headed into overtime. Justin Patton and Allen gave Eilat the lead as time wound down but Kameron Taylor hit a midrange shot to send the game into a second extra session where Wilbekin took control with a triple and free throws to take the win.

Reynolds led Maccabi with 24 points and 10 rebounds, Nunnally added 18 points and Sorkin chipped in with 13 points in the victory. Allen scored 38 points, Patton added 14 points and Miron Ruina scored 12 points and grabbed 10 boards in the loss.