Karsiyaka rallies to shock Hapoel Jerusalem on game-winning three
Pinar Karsiyaka stunned Hapoel Jerusalem 86-84 on a Bonzie Colson game winning three-pointer to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in a scorching season opening Basketball Champions League matchup on Tuesday night in the Israeli capital.
Both squads thrilled the fans for the entire 40 minutes, but Jerusalem faltered at the free-throw line late, setting up Colson’s heroics from the top of the arc to grab the win.
Karsiyaka’s victory spoiled Anthony Bennett’s brilliant Hapoel debut, which saw the 2013 NBA No. 1 overall draft pick carry the Reds throughout the first half with 18 of his 22 points, including a late corner triple, but it proved to not be enough as the Reds fell to 0-1 in continental play.
Bennett led Jerusalem with 22 points and eight rebounds, Sean Kilpatrick added 16 points and 6 assists while chipped in with 12 points in the defeat.
Colson scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for a double-double, James
Blackmon score 19 points and Amath M’Baye added 13 points in the win.
“It was devastating the way it ended and we had a chance to win the game and we threw it away,” a distraught Jerusalem coach Oren Amiel said following the game. “There is a lot to learn from this. If you can’t take these upsets then you are in the wrong business. The most important thing is to win and we didn’t do that tonight.”
Bennett also reflected on the defeat. “We fought and messed up some plays defensively near the end and that cost us the win. It’s still early in the season and we wanted to win and there are things we can take away. We fought from beginning to end and we need to clean up some things.”
The game’s MVP, Colson was all smiles post contest.
“Got to give credit to Jerusalem who played hard and challenged us on both sides of the floor. We fought to the last second and we showed the determination. We just stayed to together whatever the score was and stay locked in. Many of us have been in these types of situations, we have some great leaders, great coaches and a great staff to put us in that positron. This is a great win for us but it’s still early.”
Jerusalem got off to a quick start as Bennett and Kilpatrick each went from downtown while Retin Obasohan and Kilpatrick both scored acrobatic layups to give the hosts a 11-8 lead midway through the first quarter.
Thon Maker put down a dunk, but Colson, Tony Taylor, Blackmon and Michael Roll got on a roll to give Karsiyaka a 22-19 lead after 10 minutes.
Bennett scored a pair of baskets and a triple as Akil Mitchell and Yunus Sonsirma answered for the visitors, but Amit Gershon nailed a corner three-pointer to put Amiel’s team in front 31-30 with 6:16 left in the second quarter.
Kilpatrick went from deep, but so did Blackmon and Roll for Ufuk Sarica’s squad. However, Bennett scored a pair of triples, Kaiser Gates got on the board from beyond the arc as well to help Jerusalem to a slim one-point lead (45-44) at halftime.
M’Baye began the third quarter with a three-pointer while Colson and Mitchell added buckets until Gates, Kilpatrick and Jalen Adams broke the run with triples to keep Hapoel up 54-53 midway through the frame. Colson scored a pair down low and Blackmon dialed up from long distance, but an Adams three-pointer and Adam Ariel free throws sent the game into the final frame all knotted up at 62-62.
M’Baye and Blackmon scored while Kilpatrick answered as Karsiyaka snagged the 71-69 advantage with 5:11 left in the fourth quarter.
Taylor knocked down a three, Bennett drilled a deep one from the corner while Gates hit one as well to give Jerusalem a 78-76 lead with 2:06 remaining in regulation.
Gershon went from deep, Colson scored at the other end, Segev put down a dunk, but Roll hit a pair of free throws keep his team close, down 84-83 with just eight seconds left.
Taylor’s foul put Jerusalem’s Gates on the line, but the forward missed a pair of crucial free throws as Colson grabbed the rebound, took the ball down court and stepped up to score the game-winning three-pointer over Segev’s outstretched arms to snag the dramatic two-point win for the Turkish side.