Homenetmen Outlast Beirut, 104-99
Homenetmen held off a competitive Beirut squad to claim a hard-fought 104-99 D1M victory at Mezher on Tuesday, November 4. Khaleed Thomas led the charge for Homenetmen with a game-high 25 points and 11 rebounds. It was an up-tempo, high-scoring affair with both teams combining for 203 points.
Beirut took a 47-45 lead into halftime, but Homenetmen mounted a stunning second-half comeback, outscoring Beirut 40-38 after the break.
The game featured several highlight plays. T. Tarik Bey (Homenetmen) threw down a powerful dunk in the second quarter, one of 2 dunks in the game. A. English (Beirut) connected from beyond the arc in the second quarter during a crucial stretch. E. Thomas was a force on the defensive end with 3 blocks.
Khaleed Thomas was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 25 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 6 steals in 43 minutes of action. He shot 8-of-14 (57%) from the field, 5-of-10 (50%) from three-point range, 4-of-4 (100%) from the free-throw line. The double-double effort underlined his all-around impact on the game. Jordan Stevens provided valuable support with 32 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, including 3 three-pointers. Tyler Tarik Bey also chipped in with 22 points off the starting lineup.
Homenetmen's bench was a major factor, contributing 21 points off the pine. Aziz Abdel Massih was the standout reserve, providing 10 points, 3 assists in a spark-plug role. Homenetmen also generated 28 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Both teams shot similarly from the field — Homenetmen at 50% and Beirut at 47%. Homenetmen also had the advantage at the charity stripe, converting 23 free throws to Beirut's 16.
Down the stretch, Homenetmen came up clutch when it mattered most. J. Stevens nailed a clutch free throw with 00:19 remaining to help seal the victory. It was a white-knuckle finish that had both benches on their feet until the final buzzer.
For Beirut, Albert James English was the standout performer in defeat with 37 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals. Elijah Richard Thomas added 24 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.