Hapoel wins against Cluj!
Hapoel faced a particularly tough opponent in Cluj Napoca but defeated them 79:91, maintaining second place in the group. 23 points by Carrington (Photo: UBT Cluj)
08/01/2025
| 21:00
| Post-Game
Hapoel recorded an important away win tonight (Wednesday) in the EuroCup, beating Cluj Napoca in Romania 79:91 in Round 14 of the competition.
The team from the capital struggled somewhat offensively against the tough Romanian defense, but in the last quarter, the players - led by Jared Harper - made the right offensive decisions and tightened their defense on the way to a double-digit victory, which also gives the Reds the head-to-head advantage between the teams.
Yonatan Alon’s squad controlled the game thanks to 41 rebounds compared to the opponent’s 29, and converted 14 offensive rebounds into 20 second-chance points, while also fully capitalizing on the opponent’s turnovers - which, although only 12, were translated into 21 points on the other side.
Khadeen Carrington led the scorers with 23 points on 8/17 shooting, including four three-pointers, and was basically the only offensive threat for the Reds early in the game.
Harper started the game quieter than usual but finished with his usual numbers - 21 points including a perfect 10/10 from the free-throw line, adding seven assists and six rebounds.
Justin Smith contributed 13 points and a lot of presence that the Reds had been missing inside the paint, while Yovel Zoosman (10 points) and Jeremy Morgan (11 points) also contributed big plays on both ends of the court.
Next round, Yonatan Alon’s team - which improved to a 5-9 record in the competition - will “host” Cedevita Olimpija from Slovenia, while earlier - this coming Saturday night - they face a hot league matchup against Hapoel Tel Aviv at Menora Arena.
Game Progression:
Hapoel Starting Five: Jared Harper, Tarik Phillip, Yovel Zoosman, Gabriel Chachashvili, Justin Smith.
Cluj Starting Five: DJ Seeley, Xavier Simpson, Sasso Salin, Marcus Myrie, Zach Hankins.
Both teams struggled early, scoring only two field goals combined in the first seven minutes until a three-pointer by Khadeen Carrington, followed by a mid-range jumper, gave the visitors a 9:10 lead.
Carrington continued to be the main offensive initiator with another three, a steal and dunk by Chachashvili increased the lead to six, and another drive by Carrington ended the quarter at 9:17 with an 0:11 run.
The red run continued into the start of the second quarter with Smith correcting a miss, but Seeley responded with two consecutive three-pointers that forced Yonatan Alon to call a timeout.
Deshawn Stephens and Seeley kept the Romanians heated up, bringing them back to the lead. The Reds struggled to score from the field, and energetic Cluj ran to easy transition points en route to a 25:33 lead.
A big three-pointer by Jeremy Morgan slowed the momentum, but Salin and Simpson kept the advantage on the Romanian side, and a Harper three - the first field goal he made in the game - ended the first half at 35:37 in favor of Cluj.
An unsportsmanlike foul by Phillip allowed the Romanians to get five quick points at the start of the third quarter, but Zoosman responded with four straight points to keep Hapoel just one point behind.
Hot Seeley nailed another three, Harper hit free throws, and Morgan added a three-pointer.
However, Gediminas Orlik responded with one of his own.
Ogbayide and Zoosman completed tough plays inside to return the lead to the Reds.
Seeley didn’t stop and gave the lead back to the hosts, but Morgan and Harper reversed it again, and Smith finished the quarter with a big block on Mokoka - 59:61 for Hapoel.
Myrie tied it early in the fourth quarter, but the brilliant Carrington answered with five quick points including a steal in between.
Simpson cut the lead with a drive, but Carrington nailed a big three - pointer that set a six-point lead.
The persistent visitors repeatedly did not allow the Reds to pull away, while Harper and Chachashvili - who finished with a big and-one move inside - kept the lead at 70:76.
Stephens fought to keep his team in the game with four points including a powerful dunk, but this time Zoosman was there with two big plays - a tough shot at the shot clock buzzer and a steal afterward that ended with an alley-oop from Harper to Smith for a double-digit lead - less than two minutes left. At this point, the Romanians fought to maintain the eight-point lead with which they won the first round, but the Reds continued to show excellent defense.
On the other side, Harper found Carrington for an open three at the end of the shot clock, also scored two free throws before Mokoka only sealed the final score - 79:91 for Hapoel.
Top scorers for Hapoel:
Carrington 23 (4/7 two-pointers, 4/10 three-pointers), Harper 21 (4/8 two-pointers, 10/10 free throws, 7 assists), Smith 13 (6/10 two-pointers, 7 rebounds), Morgan 11 (3/6 three-pointers, 3 steals), Zoosman 10 (5/9 two-pointers), Ogbeide 6, Chachashvili 5, Johnson 2 (7 rebounds). Also played: Phillip.
Top scorers for Cluj:
Seeley 27 (4/8 two-pointers, 5/10 three-pointers, 4/4 free throws), Simpson 17 (4/7 two-pointers, 9/10 free throws, 5 assists), Stephens 11 (5/6 two-pointers), Orlik 8, Myrie 5, Mokoka 5, Salin, Somcescu, Hankins 2 each. Also played: Maciuca.
The team from the capital struggled somewhat offensively against the tough Romanian defense, but in the last quarter, the players - led by Jared Harper - made the right offensive decisions and tightened their defense on the way to a double-digit victory, which also gives the Reds the head-to-head advantage between the teams.
Yonatan Alon’s squad controlled the game thanks to 41 rebounds compared to the opponent’s 29, and converted 14 offensive rebounds into 20 second-chance points, while also fully capitalizing on the opponent’s turnovers - which, although only 12, were translated into 21 points on the other side.
Khadeen Carrington led the scorers with 23 points on 8/17 shooting, including four three-pointers, and was basically the only offensive threat for the Reds early in the game.
Harper started the game quieter than usual but finished with his usual numbers - 21 points including a perfect 10/10 from the free-throw line, adding seven assists and six rebounds.
Justin Smith contributed 13 points and a lot of presence that the Reds had been missing inside the paint, while Yovel Zoosman (10 points) and Jeremy Morgan (11 points) also contributed big plays on both ends of the court.
Next round, Yonatan Alon’s team - which improved to a 5-9 record in the competition - will “host” Cedevita Olimpija from Slovenia, while earlier - this coming Saturday night - they face a hot league matchup against Hapoel Tel Aviv at Menora Arena.
Game Progression:
Hapoel Starting Five: Jared Harper, Tarik Phillip, Yovel Zoosman, Gabriel Chachashvili, Justin Smith.
Cluj Starting Five: DJ Seeley, Xavier Simpson, Sasso Salin, Marcus Myrie, Zach Hankins.
Both teams struggled early, scoring only two field goals combined in the first seven minutes until a three-pointer by Khadeen Carrington, followed by a mid-range jumper, gave the visitors a 9:10 lead.
Carrington continued to be the main offensive initiator with another three, a steal and dunk by Chachashvili increased the lead to six, and another drive by Carrington ended the quarter at 9:17 with an 0:11 run.
The red run continued into the start of the second quarter with Smith correcting a miss, but Seeley responded with two consecutive three-pointers that forced Yonatan Alon to call a timeout.
Deshawn Stephens and Seeley kept the Romanians heated up, bringing them back to the lead. The Reds struggled to score from the field, and energetic Cluj ran to easy transition points en route to a 25:33 lead.
A big three-pointer by Jeremy Morgan slowed the momentum, but Salin and Simpson kept the advantage on the Romanian side, and a Harper three - the first field goal he made in the game - ended the first half at 35:37 in favor of Cluj.
An unsportsmanlike foul by Phillip allowed the Romanians to get five quick points at the start of the third quarter, but Zoosman responded with four straight points to keep Hapoel just one point behind.
Hot Seeley nailed another three, Harper hit free throws, and Morgan added a three-pointer.
However, Gediminas Orlik responded with one of his own.
Ogbayide and Zoosman completed tough plays inside to return the lead to the Reds.
Seeley didn’t stop and gave the lead back to the hosts, but Morgan and Harper reversed it again, and Smith finished the quarter with a big block on Mokoka - 59:61 for Hapoel.
Myrie tied it early in the fourth quarter, but the brilliant Carrington answered with five quick points including a steal in between.
Simpson cut the lead with a drive, but Carrington nailed a big three - pointer that set a six-point lead.
The persistent visitors repeatedly did not allow the Reds to pull away, while Harper and Chachashvili - who finished with a big and-one move inside - kept the lead at 70:76.
Stephens fought to keep his team in the game with four points including a powerful dunk, but this time Zoosman was there with two big plays - a tough shot at the shot clock buzzer and a steal afterward that ended with an alley-oop from Harper to Smith for a double-digit lead - less than two minutes left. At this point, the Romanians fought to maintain the eight-point lead with which they won the first round, but the Reds continued to show excellent defense.
On the other side, Harper found Carrington for an open three at the end of the shot clock, also scored two free throws before Mokoka only sealed the final score - 79:91 for Hapoel.
Top scorers for Hapoel:
Carrington 23 (4/7 two-pointers, 4/10 three-pointers), Harper 21 (4/8 two-pointers, 10/10 free throws, 7 assists), Smith 13 (6/10 two-pointers, 7 rebounds), Morgan 11 (3/6 three-pointers, 3 steals), Zoosman 10 (5/9 two-pointers), Ogbeide 6, Chachashvili 5, Johnson 2 (7 rebounds). Also played: Phillip.
Top scorers for Cluj:
Seeley 27 (4/8 two-pointers, 5/10 three-pointers, 4/4 free throws), Simpson 17 (4/7 two-pointers, 9/10 free throws, 5 assists), Stephens 11 (5/6 two-pointers), Orlik 8, Myrie 5, Mokoka 5, Salin, Somcescu, Hankins 2 each. Also played: Maciuca.
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