After winning two consecutive Euroleague basketball titles, Maccabi Tel Aviv lost to CSKA Moscow 73:69 Sunday night in Prague, despite the support of 10,000 fans who made the trip from Israel.
CSKA brought the cup back to Moscow for the first time in 35 years. after the Russian defense forced Maccabi into committing 20 costly turnovers.
Maccabi's Baston (in Yellow) and Vanterpool hit the floor (Photo: AP)
Maccabi started the game with a 7:0 run, and the first Russian basket came after only three and-a-half minutes into the game. But then the Russian defense kicked into gear, and a fast break tied the game. A three-point shot by former Duke star Trajan Langdon gave the CSKA their first lead (12:11).
A 16:2 run by the Russians increased their lead to 35:25, but Derek Sharp and Tal Burstein answered with baskets of their own to reduce the lead to five at halftime (35:30).
CSKA opened the second half with a swarming defense, and five straight points by forward David Vanterpool had Moscow back up by 10. But Maccabi, showing the same champion spirit that led them to the final despite a rollercoaster-type season, went on a 13:4 run of their own to tie the game up once again.
Alexey Savarasenko and Theo Papaloukas kept the Russians on top 49:48 at the end of the third quarter.
Maccabi managed to take back the lead, but Langdon and Matjaz Smodis swished two three-pointers (62:56 CSKA), and the Russians never looked back.
Leading scorers:
Maccabi Tel Aviv: Will Solomon 20, Jamie Arnold 14, Anthony Parker 10.
CSKA Moscow: Papaloukas 18, Vanterpool 16, Smodis 12, Langdon 11.
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