Unbeaten Strasbourg tops Jerusalem, scores eighthfinals ticket

Strasbourg took charge early and never looked back in defeating Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 69-79 to secure a berth in the Eurocup Eighthfinals. Strasbourg improved to 4-0 to lead Group H and advanced together with second-place Herbalife Gran Canaria Las Palmas. Jerusalem fell to 0-4 and saw its chances of advancing come to a close. The visitors used a 0-11 first-quarter run to build a 15-31 and despite a few Jerusalem comeback attempts, the outcome was never in serious doubt after that. Kyle Weems led the Strasbourg attack with 15 points and 7 rebounds, Rod Beaubois added 14 points, Matt Howard posted 12 points and 7 boards and Jeremy Leloup and Louis Campbell each scored 10 points. Josh Duncan paced Jerusalem with 16 points and E.J. Rowland added 13.

Jerusalem started well with baskets from Matt Janning, Tony Gaffney and Lior Eliyahu making it 6-0. Mardy Collins and Howard replied with Strasbourg’s first scores. Rowland hit a three to keep the hosts rolling, but soon Weems drilled a three to tie it at 11-11. Weems scored the next basket before Beaubois added 5 points to cap a 0-11 Strasbourg run. After Gaffney free throws, Leloup nailed a triple and Bangaly Fofana and Paul Lacombe closed out the quarter at 13-25. D’Or Fischer scored for the hosts to start the second quarter, but Collins scored the next two buckets before Leloup made it 15-31. Jerusalem looked to wake up through a Duncan jumper and a Rowland triple. Leloup knocked down a three to keep Strasbourg in control. Howard made it 24-38 midway through the quarter. Duncan drew Jerusalem to within 8, but Howard restored a 10-pint margin. However, baskets by Rowland and Eliyahu narrowed the deficit to 34-40 at halftime.

Duncan sank a three and Eliyahu scored inside to bring Jerusalem within 3 early in the second half. Howard scored 4 free throws over the next minute to put the visitors back in control at 39-48. Duncan helped Jerusalem fight back, but Campbell’s three-point play and a Weems triple restored a double-digit Strasbourg cushion. After Fischer free throws and a basket by Lacombe, the third quarter ended at 48-58. Weems further extended the lead and Campbell made it 52-66 as Strasbourg seemed to have the win locked up. Donta Smith and Bar Timor could only bring Jerusalem within 10. Smith made it 61-70 with four and a half minutes to go, but baskets by Lacombe and Weems all but sealed the outcome.