Hapoel Tel Aviv overcame a career night from Lemesos guard Duane Woodward to open the series against the Cypriot champions with a home win.

Woodward turned in a one-man show for Lemesos, scoring a season high 38 points on 12/18 shooting from the field and 13/16 from the free throw line. Unfortunately his team-mates were not able to provide much help, and other than Davorin Dalipagic, who scored 14 points, only 3 other players were able to get on the scoresheet.

Tel Aviv led after the first quarter and stayed in the driver’s seat throughout the game. They relied on their frontcourt for scoring as Jasmin Hukic, Michael Wright, Virginijus Praskevicius and Yaniv Green combined for 65 of the team’s 87 points.

Tel Aviv point guard Dror Hagag was the smallest player on the court at just 180 cm. He was almost the most influential, dishing 10 assists and earning game MVP honours.

Woodward’s 38 points represented 57% of his team’s total output and the Lemesos guard will be little comforted by the fact that it is the top scoring game of this season’s FEL.