Chemnitz (dpa) – The basketball players of the Niners Chemnitz have been able to celebrate success in the Bundesliga again after two defeats in a row. The Saxons got the upper hand in a thriller on Sunday against the Crailsheim Merlins with 82:79 (50:42) and climbed to fifth place with their tenth win of the season.
The three-point attempt by Crailsheim’s James Batemon missed the Chemnitz basket in the last second. Five players scored double digits with Aher Uguak, Marko Filipovity (12 each), Jonas Richter (11), Arnas Velicka and Mindaugas Susinskas (10 each). Maurice Stuckey, Batemon (15 each), Otis Livingston II and Edon Maxhuni (11 each) scored best for the Crailsheimers.
After a balanced initial quarter of an hour, the Chemnitz team set the tone shortly before the change of ends, pulled away with an 8-0 run from 44:42 (19th) to 52:42 (21st) and built their lead to 63:51 (28th ) out of. In the last five minutes, however, the guests, who played their fifth competitive game in twelve days, lost their concentration. After a 61:72 deficit (35 th ) the Crailsheim team equalized 76:76 within three minutes. Velicka with a three and Richter with a layup put the Niners ahead again with 81:76. The guests saved this lead thanks to their superiority under the boards.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:230206-99-487622/2
