Maccabi Tel Aviv fell to Milano 102-88 in Euroleague action as the yellow-and-blue’s record dropped to 3-10 on the season and put Oded Katash’s position as head coach going forward in jeopardy. The Italians took a slim 54-48 lead into halftime and then pulled away with a 25-14 third quarter as Shavon Shields led the Milano attack as the visitors cruised to the double-digit victory.

Lonnie Walker scored 21 points and Roman Sorkin added 20 points in the loss while Shields scored 26 points and Armoni Brooks put in 20 points in the win.

“This was a very bad game defensively,” Katash said. “We knew that once all their players returned, their squad is very high-quality and that they have a lot of weapons. We helped them by making it too easy for them in the first half. In the second half, even though we tried, they were at their peak of confidence and we didn’t attack well. Even though we played against a team with a lot of qualities and abilities, with a deeper rotation, I’m pretty disappointed with our energy and body language. We talked about it, we need to be more aggressive. We thought the last game helped us but we need to figure out how we fix this thing.”

“Honestly, we had a very good game,” Milano’s new head coach Peppe Poeta said. “In the second half especially, we also played better defense and that was the key. In the third and the fourth [quarters], we had a hell of a defense and we took a huge lead. On offense, the guys played amazing. They shared the ball, they ran, they had a good pace. So, we are happy with this win. I want to dedicate this win to the ownership and former head coach Ettore Messina, who gave me confidence and gave me this opportunity.”

Will Rayman lamented about the defeat, “We didn’t have any effort really in the second half and they were able to make some tough shots. We got to be better, it’s not on the coaches but on us. That’s something that we really have to take pride in, showing up every day putting in an effort. I really don’t know how that going to change and we have to figure that our ourselves. We are grown men and we need to be better.”

Shavon Shields reflected on the win, “At halftime, I said that we’d given up too many points so we tightened up on defense and put in a really great second half. I’m lucky to play with these guys out there. They’re putting me in good positions to be successful and together we played a really great second half.”