The Eisbären secured a victory of the ProA basketball season by defeating Paderborn 82–81, sealed by co-captain Garai Zeeb’s dramatic four-point play in the final seconds, according to local reports.
Zeeb Secures the Victory in the Final Seconds
Trailing 81–80 with just 4.7 seconds remaining on the clock, Zeeb converted a three-point shot, drew a foul from the Paderborn defense, and sank the subsequent free throw to snatch the win. The decisive sequence followed a tense closing stretch where Nik Schlipf had given Paderborn an 81–80 lead with a three-pointer just 24.7 seconds earlier. The dramatic finish spared the Eisbären from a third narrow defeat to open the new campaign.
Defensive Stand Ignites Late Eisbären Comeback
The turning point arrived in the fourth quarter when the Eisbären tightened their defensive rotations, holding Paderborn scoreless for a stretch of more than five minutes. During that defensive lockdown, the team manufactured an 8:0 scoring run to carve out a 75–68 advantage by the 36th minute. Despite letting several opportunities slip to close out the match earlier, the team held firm when it mattered most, according to match accounts.
Eisbären Dominate Rebounding and Lead Scoring
Head coach Naciri pointed to improved work underneath the boards as a decisive factor after the final whistle. The Eisbären claimed the rebounding battle 37–30, a contrast to their losses against Ulm and Bochum where they dropped the battle. Carlos Carter paced the Eisbären offense with 18 points, including three three-pointers, while Dominic Parolin added 16 points and eight rebounds. Vincent Friederici chipped in 15 points, and both Zeeb and Jeremiah Oden finished with 11 points apiece, with Zeeb adding nine assists. For Paderborn, Jon’Il Fugitt led all scorers with 20 points, Eyassu Worku contributed 18 points and nine assists, and Nik Schlipf finished with 12 points.
Next Match on the ProA Schedule
The Eisbären return to ProA action following their win, looking to build momentum from their success at the boards and Zeeb’s clutch heroics.
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