Nes Ziona got by Hapoel Eilat 80-79 as DJ Cooper, Jerome Meyinsee and Tyler Bey all scored 19 points to help the visitors to the dramatic win down south by the Red Sea. Nes Ziona will prepare for a trip to Beer Sheva for a State Cup date on Saturday night while Eilat is expected to name Maurizio Buscaglia as their new head coach. Nes Ziona took an early lead, but Netanel Artzi with 19 pointed and Eric Griffin with 22 points helped the hosts get back into the game, however, the Nes Ziona trio couldn’t be stopped down the stretch while Ronnie Harrell scored a pair of free throws to give Elad Hasin’s team the hard earned victory.

“I’m happy about the win after three losses in a row and sometimes you need to know how to take a win by then skin of your teeth,” Nes Ziona coach Elad Hasin explained. “We lost here in the WINNER Cup and I told the chairman Yaniv Mizrachi that the next time we come down here that we will leave with a win and while it was tough, that is what happened.”

“We did what we spoke about before the game and we were a team,” interim coach Valeri Gandlin said. “There was good energy and desire and we played together. I believe that we have a future. The new coach comes with experience and is defensive minded. The bottom line is that he is a coach.”

Hapoel Beer Sheva slipped by Kiryat Ata 96-95 as David Efiyani’s game winning 3-pointer handed Lior Lubin’s team the victory who will now get ready for an Israel State Cup quarterfinal clash with Nes Ziona on Saturday night. Sharon Avrahami’s squad took control of the game early on but the southern reds led by Greg Whittington and Ben Moore grabbed a 52-50 lead at halftime. However, Juvonte Reddic and Diante Garrett gave the hosts the lead but Efiyani’s triple gave Beer Sheva the win.

Whittington paced Beer Sheva with 19 points, Moore added 18 points and Efiyani chipped in with 17 points in the win. Garrett led Kiryat Ata with 23 points and 10 assists, Reddic scored 17 points and Michael Brisker added 16 points in the loss.