体坛英语新闻：Maccabi Tel Aviv beat Barcelona 92-85 in Euroleague basketball

JERUSALEM, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv beat Spain's FC Barcelona 92-85 in the 19th round of Euroleague basketball on Tuesday evening.

The victory tied Maccabi's record with that of Barcelona; both teams have 13 wins and 6 losses.

About 11,000 fans at the Menorah Mivtachim Arena in the coastal city of Tel Aviv saw the visitors dominate the first quarter, ending on a 27-20 lead, thanks to points by Cory Higgins and Brandon Davies.

Jake Cohen and Tyler Dorsey led the home team to a comeback and a 33-32 lead in the 14th minute, and points by Scottie Wilbekin increased the gap to 48-41 at halftime.

Ante Tomic and Victor Claver led Barcelona to a 56-56 tie, but Maccabi ran 9-0 on the way to a 65-57 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The hosts increased their lead to 12 points at the beginning of the last quarter (71-59). Barcelona immediately cut the gap to 68-71, but Maccabi's Angelo Caloiaro and Aaron Jackson secured the home win.

Dorsey scored a team-high 19 points. Wilbekin added 18 points, while Caloiaro and Othello Hunter added 12 points each.

Nicola Mirotic led Barcelona scorers with 22 points. Higgins and Malcolm Delaney added 13 points each.

Maccabi will play their next game at home against Italy's Armani Milano, while Barcelona will face Fenerbahce in Turkey - with both games to be played on January 16.