Maccabi Tel Aviv eliminated from Eurocup

Maccabi Tel Aviv was eliminated from the Eurocup basketball tournament Wednesday, losing 95:84 to Nizhniy Novgorod in a home game at the Menora Mivtachim Arena.

The home team managed to squeeze an 81-81 tie at the end of the fourth quarter, and the game went into overtime. However, the Russian team went on to dominate from then on, securing its lead with 14 points in a row, while Maccabi struggled to score three throughout the entire stretch.

With 21 points, Gal Mekel was Maccabi’s top scorer in the game, while Trevor Mbakwe sunk 13. On the Russian side, Victor Rudd scored 22 points and Dimitriy Khvostov came close behind with 19.

Once a European powerhouse, Maccabi has suffered a series of major setbacks in the past season. On Saturday, it was handed its heaviest defeat ever, losing 91:56 to Maccabi Haifa in an Israeli league game.

As Wednesday’s game began, Tel Aviv fans refrained from cheering their team on in protest of a recent hike in ticket prices. “Fans, not customers,” read a large plaque raised at the arena.