Maccabi Tel Aviv eases past Rishon

The perennial champs benefited from five players in double figures.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
nikola vujcic 298.88 (photo credit: Euroleague photos)
nikola vujcic 298.88
(photo credit: Euroleague photos)
Nikola Vujcic was perfect from the field on his way to 20 points and six assists as Maccabi Tel Aviv cruised past Maccabi Rishon 100-85 Monday night at Nokia Arena to wrap up BSL Matchday 3. The perennial champs benefited from five players in double figures, with Sharon Shason having his best game since joining the yellow-and-blue. The forward scored 14 points on 4-for-4 shooting beyond the arc in 17 minutes. Omar Sneed led Rishon with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Rishon was able to stay with Tel Aviv for eight minutes, but the hosts closed out the first quarter with 10 unanswered points and Shason started the second with a trifecta to make it 31-19. Rishon never really threatened after that. Tel Aviv's biggest lead came early in the fourth when a Derrik Sharp three-pointer put the champs ahead 85-56. Rishon did string together 11 straight points late in the game to make the scoreline more respectable. Last year Tel Aviv headed into its first home meeting with Rishon overconfident and rested Anthony Parker only to get burned with its first - and only - league loss of the season. Tel Aviv's only concern came in the third quarter when Maceo Baston fell awkwardly and came off the court limping. But by the end of the period he was back in the game. Rishon big man Lee Mathews managed 15 points and 18-year-old reserve Tal Dan had a career-high 14 in 10 minutes. Tal Burstein had 17 points, six rebounds and eight assists for Maccabi, Baston added 14 and Sharp netted 11. Will Solomon, Maccabi's replacement for Sarunas Jasikevicius, continued to have trouble locating his shot, making only one of seven three-point attempts on his way to nine points in 30 minutes.