Maccabi FOX completes season sweep of Fenerbahce

Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv edged Fenerbahce Istanbul 79-81 Tuesday on a Sylven Landesberg buzzer-beater to complete a season sweep of the Turkish champs and deny – at least temporarily – Fenerbahce a ticket to the playoffs. Maccabi improved to 10-17, while dropping Fenerbahce to 17-10. Coach Zlejko Obradovic’s men could still advance to the playoffs in Round 27 if other results go its way. Fenerbahce led by as many as 13 points, but Maccabi battled back and ultimately scored the final 6 points of the game to secure the victory. Landesberg finished with a career-high 22 points to lead the winners, including 4-of-4 shooting from downtown. Diamon Simpson produced a spectacular all-around effort with 14 points, 12 rebounds and 5 steals, while Joe Alexander added a season-high 13 points and Yogev Ohayon tallied 10 points and 6 assists. Melih Mahmutoglu was 5 of 6 from behind the arc to pace the Fenerbahce attack with 15 points, Ekpe Udoh amassed 13 points and 10 rebounds, Bobby Dixon had 11 points and 7 assists and Jan Vesely scored 10 in defeat.

The game started at a slow pace, but Dixon drilled a pair three-pointers in the span of one minutes to make it 14-6 after six minutes. After a timeout, Mahmutoglu connected from downtown to give the hosts a double-digit advantage. Colton Iverson revived the Maccabi attack, but Udoh and Vesely kept Fenerbahce comfortable ahead, 25-15, after 10 minutes. Guy Pnini sank a three-pointer and Landesberg scored on the break to get Maccabi within 30-23, but Luigi Datome, countered with a triple of his own. Threes continued to rain down at both ends with Landesberg heating up to help the visitors close the gap. Ohayon scored twice to help get Maccabi within 1, but Nikola Kalinic’s layup gave Fenerbahce a 41-38 halftime advantage. Maccabi completed its comeback 70 second into the second half when an Ohayon three-pointer tied the game at 43-43. Victor Rudd took charge with the assist on an alley-oop slam by Simpson and two-handed slam of his own. Fenerbahce Ulker Sports Arena fell silent as Landesberg put the visitors up 45-51. Fenerbahce turned to defense to stop Maccabi and Pero Antic hit a three-pointer and a pair of free throws to push the hosts in front 54-53. Maccabi tied it, but Antic drilled a deep three and an amazing alley-oop by Vesely at the third-quarter buzzer made it 59-56 through three quarters. Landesberg tied it again with a three to open the fourth quarter. Fenerbahce regained a minimal lead, but was unable to shake the visitors and Rudd tied it again at 67-67 with five minutes remaining. Mahmutoglu’s fourth three of the game was followed by James Nunnally’s first. Ohayon and Mahmutoglu traded threes before Simpson scored twice to make it 76-74 with 2:20 remaining. Alexander tied it at 79-79 with a slam with 29.1 seconds remaining and after Dixon’s bad pass, Maccabi got the ball to Landesberg, whose jumper bounced in at the buzzer sounded to give the visitors a sweet victory.