BEIRUT: Homenetmen’s six game winning streak reached a resounding end Thursday after they were dealt a humiliating 133-91 loss at the hands of Amchit in round 16 of the Lebanese Basketball League, as the Jbeil side moved level top with Riyadi and Sagesse at 12-4.
Along with Mouttahed, Amchit were the only team whom the Armenian side have failed to beat this season.
The visitors started brightly to lead 17-13, thanks to American center Terrence Leather, who scored 15 points alone in the first quarter. Amchit eventually claimed the lead at the end of the first 25-24, with Joey Accaoui excelling from behind the arc.
The 176-cm point guard played as a starter following the injury of Karl Sarkis who was sidelined for the game. And Accaoui made the most of his chance sparking his side to a 38-18 in the second with 5-of-7 from the 3-point line in the first half, as Amchit led 63-42 at halftime.
The Jbeil side continued in the third from where they left in the second, as their gap was extended to nearly 30 points in the period. From then on the game was already decided as Amchit eventually wrapped up a lopsided 133-91 victory.
Accaoui starred with 25 points including 6-of-9 3-pointers, while Jeremiah Massey added 26 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Ali Traore and Fadi al-Khatib both had 22 points with nine rebounds for the former.
Leather top scored for Homenetmen with a game-high 36 points and 10 rebounds, while his compatriot Dion Dixon added 29 points and Hayk Gyokchyan notched 13 points.
Meanwhile, Mouttahed will hope to move level with the leading trio Riyadi, Sagesse and Amchit, when they visit eighth-placed Champville at Dik al-Mehdi Friday during round 16 of the Lebanese Basketball League.
The Tripoli side were among a four-way tie for top spot after the end of round 15 at 11-4, and they will look to earn a timely boost ahead of next week’s important encounter with Riyadi at Manara.
The battle for pole position remains open, with all the games being unpredictable to the extent that Riyadi only narrowly defeated Hoops 78-72 Wednesday in the last two minutes.
Meanwhile, Champville will look to keep their hopes alive of leapfrogging Tadamon into seventh place, as both teams are level at 5-10. Tadamon will face Bejjeh Saturday at Ghazir.
Mouttahed defeated Champville in the first leg 94-71. They are also heading to the match on the back of two successive victories against Amchit and Hoops. Meanwhile, Champville have been far from impressive against the top four teams, managing only one win, a 94-93 overtime victory over Sagesse in the first leg. The 2012-2013 champions have failed to replicate the form of their title-winning side.
Source: The Daily Star