MILAN (AP) - Maccabi Tel Aviv dominated in overtime to beat Real Madrid 98-86 in the Euroleague basketball final on Sunday as the Spanish team lost in the title game for the second successive year.
Cheered on by thousands of fans who had made the trip from Israel, Maccabi outscored Madrid 25-13 in the overtime period to win its fifth title.
Tyrese Rice scored 21 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and overtime for Maccabi. It was the first Euroleague final to go to OT since 1969.
In Tel Aviv, Maccabi’s upset victory set off wild celebrations. Hundreds of people clad in Maccabi yellow filled the city’s central Rabin Square, with many jumping spontaneously into its landmark fountain. Both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres called the team to offer congratulations.
“All of Israel is yellow tonight - congratulations,” Peres told coach David Blatt during their phone call. “I watched the whole game and nearly had a heart attack. You are heroes and have brought incredible pride to the state of Israel.”
Madrid was aiming for a record ninth title, but its first since 1995, after losing to Olympiakos in last year’s final.
It had a 26-16 lead midway through the second quarter but Maccabi fought back to trail by just two points at halftime.
Maccabi led by four with less than a minute remaining but Sergio Rodriguez and Ioannis Bourousis made two free throws each to send the game into overtime.
Rodriguez led Madrid with 21 points, with Rudy Fernandez adding 15 points and eight rebounds.
In the third-place game, Barcelona beat CSKA Moscow 93-78.
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