Strong second half leads Hapoel Nufar Energy Galil Elion to 5th win in a row

Hapoel Nufar Energy Galil Elion keeps being the only unbeaten team in Delasport Balkan League. The team managed to win its fifth game in a row after beating fellow Israeli side Maccabi Next Urban Haifa for second time in two weeks, now by the score of 85-80 away. Hapoel played very good second half in which completed a comeback and in the final minutes held on for the victory. The team's next game will be on November 30th at home against KK Navico Akademija FMP while Maccabi will play the same opponent two days later.

The hosts started well and after scoring 9 points a row they took a 12-point advantage after the middle of the first quarter. They managed to keep it in the next few minutes and after ten were up by 9. In the second period they continued to have an advantage as it reached as high as 18 points. Hapoel though managed to finish better the first half and cut their deficit to 10 which gave them better chance for after the break.

The visitors started closing the gap even more in the third quarter and with 3:19 to play in it, they tied the score. Until the end of it both teams exchanged points and they were tied before the final quarter. A 6-1 run early in the fourth gave the hosts the lead back. Hapoel though answered with 8 points in a row to take the lead for the first time in the game. It didn't last long as Maccabi re-took it but then Hapoel went on another 8-0 run after which the hosts couldn't come back.

Six players scored in double figures for the winners with three of them scoring 14 points apiece - Omer Tal, Gabriel Chachashvili and Chavaughn Lewis. Chachashvili also dominated the boards finishing with 15 rebounds for a double-double. In total Hapoel had 18-5 offensive rebounds advantage and it helped the team has more shots and they used it to get the win.

The top scorer in the game was Raphniel Puntey who finished with 26 points while he also had 7 rebounds. Danel Kozahinof also did well with 15 points and 8 assists while Josh Freund scored 13 points.

BOXSCORE