Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem survived a thriller against CSU Asesoft Ploiesti and picked up an 82-80 victory. The game featured five ties and five lead changes in the fourth quarter alone before the hosts walked away with the win. The result left Hapoel in a three-way tie for first place in Group E at 3-1, while Ploiesti slipped to 2-2. The visitors had a chance till the final buzzer, when Chris Dunn’s jumper to force a tie hit the back rim and went out. Josh Duncan led Jerusalem with 19 points, Ronald Dupree and Yotam Halperin added 17 apiece and Art Parakhouski tallied 13 points and 4 blocks. Filip Adamovic led Ploiesti with 18 points and 5 assists, Alhaji Mohammed finished with 15 points and 5 assists, Gerald Lee scored 14 and Dragan Zekovic 13.

Duncan scored twice and assisted on another basket as Hapoel jumped out to a 13-5 lead. A Rawle Marshall three-pointer and a Catalin Burlacu tip-in drew the visitors within 17-14 after one quarter. An Mohammed three gave Ploiesti its first lead, 17-19. Zekovic’s second three made it 23-30 midway through the second quarter, silencing a stunned Goldberg Arena. The hosts regrouped and scored 7 straight points to toe the score, but Lee put Ploiesti back in front. Halperin kept Jerusalem close, 37-39, at halftime. Duncan tied the score and Dupree put Jerusalem up early in the third quarter. Ploiesti responded and kept it close as the teams traded baskets. Dupree and Halperin boosted the Hapoel lead to 55-48, but an Adamovic triple closed the gap to 3 at the end of the quarter. The hosts led by 6 early in the fourth quarter, but a 0-8 run capped by Mohammed’s steal and slam made it 62-64. Kitchen and Duncan restored a narrow Hapoel lead only to see Mohammed tie it from downtown. Parakhouski split free throws to make it 72-71 with 2:23 remaining, then Lee fouled out and Duncan put Hapoel up 3 from the line. Tica scored inside for Ploiesti before Halperin sank a clutch three with 90 seconds to go. Kitchen also checked out with five fouls, but Tica made only 1 from the line, 77-74. Ploiesti fought till the end and a basket-plus-foul from Mohammed made it 80-79 with 5.5 seconds remaining. The visitors sent Dupree to the line and he made both shots. However Hapoel fouled Zekovic as the visitors went for a game-tying three. The Ploiesti forward made the first, intentionally missed the second and despite getting a loose ball for a final shot, missed allowing the home team to celebrate a tough win.