Union Olimpija scores first Last 32 win, hands Maccabi FOX third straight loss

Union Olimpija Ljubljana held off Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv 73-66 on Wednesday night for its maiden win in the Last 32. Though Olimpija had already been mathematically eliminated from Top 16 contention, it played tough and outrebounded Maccabi 40-32. The visitors were playing shorthanded without Brian Randle, Trevor Mbakwe, Yogev Ohayon and Devin Smith, but a red-hot Gal Mekel kept Maccabi in it late. However without much help, Olimpija was able to claim the win to improve to 1-4, while dropping Maccabi to its third straight loss and a 2-3 record. Maccabi can still reach the Eurocup Eighthfinals with a win in its Last 32 finale at home next week. Sava Lesic led the winners with 16 points, Ronalds Zakis posted 13 points and 7 rebounds and Miha Lapornik added 10 points for Olimpija. Mekel led Maccabi with 20 point and Ike Ofoegbu scored 14; between the two of them there were just 2 missed shots.

Both offenses clicked early, but it was Maccabi that got a pair of threes from Dagan Yivzori that jumped to a 4-6 lead. The hosts stayed close and tied it at 10-10 on a Zakis put-back. Blaz Mahkovic scored 5 in 9-0 run that pushed Olimija to a 19-12 advantage. An Ofoegbu triple and Taylor Rochestie layup closed the gap to 19-17 after 10 minutes. Olimpija kept Maccabi scoreless for the first two-and-a-half minutes of the second quarter, during which Dawan Robinson and Mahkovic each scored and assisted to put the home team up 8. Rochestie and Sylven Landesberg kept Maccabi in the picture, but the lead reached 37-27 after Lesic’s basket with three minutes to go in the half. With 7 points in the final two minutes before halftime, Mekel drew Maccabi within 45-38 at the break.

Olimpija twice built its lead out to 9 early in the third quarter, but Mekel took charge with a three-point play before his first triple drew Maccabi within 51-50. Hrovat and Lesic scored to keep the lead with the hosts, even though Ofoegbu and Mekel kept things close. Zakis gave Olimpija a 60-56 lead through three quarters. Landesberg free throws and another basket by Mekel had Maccabi breathing down Olimpija’s neck at 64-63 with six minutes to play. Lapornik and Zach Wright restored some breathing room for the hosts. Maccabi players not named Mekel shot 0 for 7 in the final five minutes, while Lesic with free throws and Zakis closed out the Olimpija victory.