Basketball: Bayreuth secures fourth win of the season at Dresden Titans

BBC Bayreuth celebrated a 75:66 labour victory at Dresden Titans in the 2nd German Basketball League ProA on Saturday evening.

The BBC got off to a confident start to the game. After two threes by Moritz Plescher and Lenny Liedtke, Bayreuth quickly went 8:2 in front. A further bucket from downtown by Moritz Plescher put the BBC 11:5 in front after just over five minutes. Bayreuth made a wide-awake impression and showed good body language. A three by Marco Rahn put the BBC ten points in front. Dresden produced a relatively large number of turnovers and was too ineffective under the board. The BBC led 22:10 after ten minutes.

The game became faster in the second quarter, Dresden closed the gap to 14:23 and BBC Head Coach Mladen Drijencic called his first timeout. The game now became more even. Dresden closed the gap to 21:26 with a 7:0 run and Mladen Drijencic called a second timeout. Bayreuth then extended its lead slightly to 30:24. However, Dresden then closed the gap to 29:30. The home side was now fully in the game and equalised to make it 32:32. Esa Ahmad at least scored a lay-up to give Bayreuth a 34:32 halftime lead. However, Dresden won the second quarter by 22:12 and now had the momentum on its side.

Daniel Kirchner and Grant Teichmann drained two threes to give Dresden a magnificent start to the second half and put the home side 38:34 in front. However, Bayreuth did not allow itself to be shaken off and equalised again thanks to a free throw by Marios Giotis to make it 42:42. After 27 minutes, the BBC led again by 46:44 after two more free throws by Giotis. Bayreuth nevertheless went into the final period with a five-point lead in front of a season-record crowd of 2,513 spectators.

Koen Sapwell quickly cut the deficit to 51:53 with a three for the Titans and Esa Ahmad also added a bucket from beyond the arc to make it 56:51 in favor of the BBC again. Esa Ahmad again stretched the lead to 60:53. The home side closed the gap to 59:62 after 35 minutes. Two free throws by Shane Gatling put Bayreuth 66:59 in front with two minutes remaining. Daniel Kirchner then missed two free throws for Dresden and Koen Sapwell only made one of two free throws in the next attack. The BBC went 71:64 in front with one minute remaining and Shane Gatling made it 73:64. Bayreuth ultimately won 75:66, with Aaron Carver scoring the last two points for the BBC. After eight games, Bayreuth now has a balanced record of four wins and four defeats in the Pro A.

"We executed our game plan well and showed decent defence. That enabled us to hold Dresden to 66 points. As a young team, we want to keep thinking from game to game. After the start to the season, which wasn't exactly what we wanted, we're now hoping to start a small streak," summarised Moritz Plescher.

The BBC's next game is against Phoenix Hagen at home on Sunday afternoon.