Ramat Gan downed Hapoel Jerusalem 93-82 after turning around a first quarter deficit to take the win. Yonatan Alton’s capital city side jumped our to a 28-20 lead after the minutes of play thanks to points from Levi Randolph but Shmulik Brenner’s squad, who were without two of their imports turned the game around as Mangok Mathiang, Nuni Omot and Jordan Cohen took control of the contest and recorded the victory.
Omot scored 20 points, Cohen added 19 points and Mathiang chipped in with 16 points in the win. Randolph scored 26 points while JaCorey Williams and Chris Johnson each scored 12 points in the loss.

Shmulik Brenner – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman
“This was a very important win for us,” Ramat Gan head coach Shmulik Brenner said. “This was a team win that brought pride to our club. We were missing two important players but I am always happy as to the way the players come into the game no matter who is available. We won at a difficult arena and while this was a big win, the season continues on.”

Yonatan Alon – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman
“We weren’t there defensively from the first minute of the game,” Hapoel Jerusalem Head Coach Yonatan Alon said. “We had to get back to our defense and we weren’t able to the entire game. I think we can get more from every player. hen we win it’s all of us together and when we lose it’s all of us together.”

Mangok Mathiang – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman
Mangok Mathiang spoke about his team’s victory, “We were locked into the game and made sure to stay within our game principles, against one of the historic teams in Israel. We came into a tough environment and coach made sure to keep us together.”

Levi Randolph – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman
Levi Randolph reflected on the loss, “We knew what we were facing a really good team with good players that are coached really well. They were on a hot streak and so were we coming into the game. Giving up 91 points is a lot of points and it’s hard to win with so many points. That’s not who we are. We needed intensity on defense and there were a lot of mistakes on our part, we have to continue to work hard.”

JaCorey Williams – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman
JaCorey Williams scored in the paint while Levi Randolph went from the inside and outside to get Hapoel Jerusalem off and running, Jordan Cohen and Adam Ariel dialled up long distance for Maccabi Ramat Gan but a Speedy Smith triple and Noam Dovrat’s first points since returning from injury gave the reds a 16-11 lead midway through the first quarter. Nuni Omot put in a pair of baskets, Chris Johnson drilled home a corner 3-ball, Alex Tyus scored his first points for Jerusalem and Randolph hit an off balance jumper as the hosts took a 28-22 lead after ten minutes of play.

Adam Ariel – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman
Mangok Mathiang opened the second quarter with a pair of baskets, Randolph went from deep, Williams put down a dunk, Yahel Melamed scored a pair of buckets as well while Ariel went firm beyond the arc and Itay Moskovits scored to knot the game up at 35-35 with 5:59 left in the first half. Williams put in a deuce as did Mathiang, Randolph knocked down a comer 3-pointer but Ariel came back with a basket and Cohen and Omot went from downtown to give Shmulik Brenner’s squad a 47-45 advantage at halftime.

Mangok Mathiang – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman
Mathiang started off the third quarter with points, Omot went from deep, Randolph went from the inside and outside while Ariel once again went for a corner 3-ball to keep Ramat Gan in front 56-52 midway through the period. Or Cornelius scored, Johnson checked in with a 3-point play, Yuval Sznajderman and Khadeen Carrington traded baskets, Omot put in a 3-point play and then dunked as the visitors stayed ahead 67-62 after thirty minutes of action.

Yuval Sznajderman – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman
Omot began the fourth quarter with a deuce, Zoosman responded, Cohen stole the ball and went in for an easy two and then added a 3-pointer, Johnson knocked down a triple, but Melamed with a deuce and triple kept Ramat Gan in the drivers seat up 81-70 lead and 5:18 remaining in regulation time. Mathiang dialled up long distance, Cornelius answered right back, Sznajderman put in points, Cornelius went from downtown but Mathiang dunked to close out the win for Ramat Gan.
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