Reigning EuroCup MVP Jared Harper led the way for the Jerusalemites
Jerusalem holds firm to stop Bahcesehir’s perfect run
Game Report
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 6 of 18
Regular Season
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Bahcesehir College IstanbulBKS
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Hapoel Midtown JerusalemJLM
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Overview
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Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem made a statement win, handing Bahcesehir College its first loss of the season with an 82-90 victory. Staying composed and in control for most of the night, the visitors held their ground even as Bahcesehir mounted a late comeback in the fourth quarter, sealing a well-earned win on the road.
‘‘It’s a big one for us.’’ Jared Harper said after the game. ‘‘I know that they are the first in the group right now, we were just looking to come out here and prove ourselves. I feel like we’ve had a lot of ups and downs to start the season, but we came out here and proved that we are one of the best teams in the competition and I feel like we did that as a team tonight.’’
Harper set the tone from the opening minutes, taking control early and leading Jerusalem with 15 points in the first half. The American guard attacked the paint with purpose, exploiting gaps in Bahcesehir's defense and dictating the tempo with his one-on-one creation. He kept the pressure on throughout the night and finished with 27 points, 4 assists and a game-high PIR of 37.
Jerusalem attacked the basket with purpose on offense, finishing the game with a 58% two-point shooting rate. Points in transition proved critical throughout the night, keeping the visitors in control even as Bahcesehir tried to fight back late.
Austin Wiley dominated the paint, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds for a double-double, asserting an inside presence that Bahcesehir struggled to match. Justin Smith also contributed with 16 points, many of which were set up by his teammates through pick-and-rolls.
The key factor in stopping Bahcesehir, which had been unbeaten while averaging 94.0 points per game, was Jerusalem’s defense. From the opening tip, Hapoel protected the paint effectively, limiting easy opportunities for Bahcesehir.
After the balanced performance, Coach Yonatan Alon reflected on the win: ‘‘I think the key was to play a little bit faster and start the offense quick and to play with pace. And defense, to do the right stops. Obviously, they took 20 offensive rebounds; this is unacceptable.’
‘‘It’s a big win, it’s a good result for us. But like I say every week, we still can play much better. We still can take much more for ourselves we are on the way, we will be there.’’
Both teams struggled from beyond the arc throughout the game, with Jerusalem shooting just 27.8% and Bahcesehir hitting 29.4% from three. Yovel Zoosman was critical for Jerusalem from deep, knocking down 3 three-pointers to help his team maintain control.
Reflecting on the win, Zoosman said: “I think we had the right mindset tonight, even when they came back. They’re a very good team and we knew they’d make their runs. A team with a lot of talent. We stayed with it, stayed focused, and didn't lose concentration.”
For Bahcesehir, Malachi Flynn carried the offense early, pouring in 28 points to keep his team within reach. Hunter Hale emerged in the second half, fueling their late push with 12 points, including three timely three-pointers. Trevion Williams held down the paint with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, but despite their efforts, Bahcesehir couldn’t fully close the gap.
In Round 7, Hapoel Jerusalem will face Neptunas Klaipeda, while Bahcesehir will be on the road for their game against Aris Thessaloniki Betsson.