Lucic, Macvan led Bayern past Jerusalem

FC Bayern Munich remained undefeated and sent a message that echoed all around the 7DAYS EuroCup by downing Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 83-91 in Group B in the Holy City on Wednesday. Bayern improved to 3-0 in Group B while Jerusalem dropped to 0-3. Vladimir Lucic led the winners with 16 points. Milan Macvan and Braydon Hobbs each added 15, Reggie Redding had 13 while Jared Cunningham got 10 for Bayern. Austin Daye led Jerusalem with 28 points. Richard Howell added 13 while Alen Omic had 10 for the hosts. Bayern started the game with great intensity at both ends, as Redding, Lucic and Hobbs allowed Bayern to get a 12-31 lead after 10 minutes. Daye stepped up for the hosts, getting help from Howell and Yogev Ohayon to bring Jerusalem within 39-51 at halftime. Macvan took over after the break, leading a 0-10 run that sealed the outcome, 49-72. Bayern kept a 55-78 margin after 30 minutes. Daye had 13 points in a 19-2 run that gave Jerusalem plenty of hope, 79-85, but Bayern stayed calmed in the final two minutes and sealed the outcome from the free throw line.

Lucic and Macvan fueled a 0-6 opening run. Daye and Jerome Dyson stepped up for Jerusalem but three-pointers by Redding and Lucic made the hosts call timeout at 7-16. Back-to-back triples by Redding and Hobbs boosted the guests' margin to 10-25. Free throws by Hobbs and Cunningham made it a 19-point game, 12-31, after 10 minutes. Howell and Ohayon tried to change things for Jerusalem early in the second quarter but an alleyoop dunk by Lucic kept Bayern way ahead, 18-37. Daye hit a couple of a three-pointers and added a jumper, getting help from Bar Timor to give Jerusalem hope at 31-43. Maik Zirbes followed free throws with a jump hook, Lucic hit a jumper and Macvan added a layup for a 39-51 Bayern lead at the break. A second-chance layup by Devin Booker kept Bayern fully in charge, 43-57, soon after the break. Anton Gavel buried a triple and an alleyoop layup by Lucic made it a 15-point game, 47-62. Macvan had seven points in a 0-10 run to give the guests a 49-72 lead. Yotan Halperin hit a triple and Alen Omic scored down low but Redding and Hobbs restored a 55-78 Bayern lead after 30 minutes. Jerusalem found a go-to guy in Daye, who had 13 points in a 19-2 run that brought Jerusalem within 79-85 in the next-to-last minutes. Free throws by Lucic and Redding allowed Bayern to stay out of trouble until the final buzzer.

Both teams return to action on Wednesday. Bayern visits Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, in a battle between undefeated teams, while Jerusalem travels to Italy to face Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia.