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Besiktas claims first EuroLeague win in 13-season return with 109-93 victory over Maccabi

Wilbekin (12) of Besiktas in action during the 2026/2027 EuroLeague Round 2 match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Besiktas at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, Serbia, on September 30, 2026. (AA Photo)
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Wilbekin (12) of Besiktas in action during the 2026/2027 EuroLeague Round 2 match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Besiktas at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, Serbia, on September 30, 2026. (AA Photo)
October 01, 2026 09:20 AM GMT+03:00

Besiktas picked up its first EuroLeague victory since returning to the competition after a 13-season absence, beating Israeli side Maccabi Tel-Aviv 109-93 in Belgrade on Wednesday.

The Istanbul club, which had previously appeared in Europe's top-tier basketball competition only in the 2012-13 season, also passed the 100-point mark for the first time in its EuroLeague history.

Brown and Wilbekin led Besiktas with 20 points each, while Dotson added 17 as the Turkish side bounced back from its opening-week 96-94 defeat against Valencia Basket.

Eugene Omoruyi (20) of Besiktas in action against T.J. Leaf (22) of Maccabi Tel Aviv during the 2026/2027 EuroLeague Round 2 match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Besiktas at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, Serbia, on September 30, 2026. (AA Photo)
Eugene Omoruyi (20) of Besiktas in action against T.J. Leaf (22) of Maccabi Tel Aviv during the 2026/2027 EuroLeague Round 2 match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Besiktas at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, Serbia, on September 30, 2026. (AA Photo)

Besiktas takes control early in Belgrade

Playing at Aleksandar Nikolic Sports Hall in the Serbian capital, Besiktas quickly settled into the game through Nowell, Morgan and Zizic, moving 12-6 ahead midway through the opening quarter.

The visitors stretched the gap into double digits late in the period and went into the second quarter leading 27-19.

Besiktas carried that momentum over as Berk Ugurlu, Furkan Korkmaz, Omoruyi and Dotson helped push the advantage to 16 points during the second period.

Maccabi managed to cut the deficit to six before halftime, but Besiktas held on to a 52-46 lead at the break.

Wilbekin (12) of Besiktas in action against Lundberg (0) of Maccabi Tel Aviv during the 2026/2027 EuroLeague Round 2 match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Besiktas at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, Serbia, on September 30, 2026. (AA Photo)
Wilbekin (12) of Besiktas in action against Lundberg (0) of Maccabi Tel Aviv during the 2026/2027 EuroLeague Round 2 match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Besiktas at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, Serbia, on September 30, 2026. (AA Photo)

Wilbekin helps Besiktas pull away

Besiktas stepped up again after halftime, with Wilbekin helping the team restore a double-digit advantage during the third quarter.

The Turkish side entered the final period 78-63 ahead and made the most of that cushion, keeping Maccabi from closing the gap before wrapping up a 109-93 victory.

Along with Brown and Wilbekin's 20-point performances, Morgan scored 13, while Omoruyi and Furkan Korkmaz added 11 each.

Conor Morgan of Besiktas in action during the 2026/2027 EuroLeague Round 2 match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Besiktas at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, Serbia, on September 30, 2026. (AA Photo)
Conor Morgan of Besiktas in action during the 2026/2027 EuroLeague Round 2 match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Besiktas at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, Serbia, on September 30, 2026. (AA Photo)

Historic scoring mark accompanies first win

The result marked Besiktas' first victory in its second EuroLeague campaign and its first win in three meetings with Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the competition.

It also gave Besiktas its first 100-point game in EuroLeague history after returning to the tournament for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

Maccabi, meanwhile, fell to a second defeat in as many games.

October 01, 2026 09:21 AM GMT+03:00
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