Basketball: BBC suffers bitter defeat in Münster after two overtimes

After trailing by 17 points at one stage, BBC Bayreuth went into overtime and finally lost 111:116 after two overtimes - BBC Bayreuth's encounter in the BARMER 2nd German Basketball League Pro A at Uni Baskets Münster was bitter tonight.

Bayreuth got off to a good start with an 8:0 lead. With the BBC 8:2 in front, Münster's Stefan Weß was penalized for an unsporting foul. Bayreuth then went 10:2 in front. Münster then closed the gap to 10:12 with two threes in succession and equalized through Stefan Weß to make it 12:12. The home side rebounded well and led 27:21 after ten minutes.

Selim Fofana cut the deficit to 23:27 right at the start of the second period, but Münster responded immediately and stretched its lead to 32:23. The home side led 36:30 after 13 minutes and stretched the gap to 38:30 shortly afterwards. Selim Fofana and Lenny Liedtke then put Bayreuth back within striking distance with two threes in succession to make it 36:38. The home side then stretched the lead to 53:45 by half-time. The Uni Baskets went in at the break with an eight-point lead.

Münster immediately stretched its lead to 60:45 and so by a clear double-digit margin - a 10:2 run by the home side across the quarters. Shortly afterwards, the Uni Baskets were 63:47 ahead. Bayreuth then caught up again somewhat. After a three by Philip Jalalpoor, it was only 52:63. 76:60 in favor of Münster at one stage. The Uni Baskets went into the final quarter with a seemingly comfortable 79:65 lead.

The BBC initially closed the gap to 69:79, but Stefan Weß responded immediately with a three from Münster. Finally, Stefan Weß drained his third three in succession to put the home side 85:71 in front. With 158 seconds remaining, Bayreuth equalized with a three-point play by Esa Ahmad to make it 90:90. Shane Gatling then put Bayreuth 93:92 in front with a three. Münster struck back to move 94:93 in front. Münster scored a free throw at the other end and Shane Gatling equalized to make it 95:95. It remained that way after 40 minutes, with five minutes of overtime.

Lenny Liedtke put the BBC 98:97 ahead from the free throw line. However, Münster struck back - 99:98 for the home side. Shane Gatling then made it 100:99 for Bayreuth. Adam Touray responded by making it 101:100 for Münster, then two free throws by Hilmar Petursson to make it 103:100 for the Uni Baskets with 56 seconds left in the first overtime period. Shane Gatling finally equalized with the buzzer of the first overtime and a deier to make it 103:103 - there were five more minutes of extra time.

Münster was 107:105 in front with two minutes remaining. Selim Fofana cut the deficit to 108:109 with a three, but Münster missed and Shane Gatling gave the BBC a 110:109 lead from the foul line with just over a minute remaining. However, Nathan Scott replied with a three for Münster. Bayreuth failed with two three-point attempts, while Cosmo Grühn drained two free throws at the other end to make it 114:110. Shane Gatling drained another free throw, but Stefan Weß made it 116:111 for Münster.

The next home game is against RÖMERSTROM Gladiators Trier next Saturday, March 23, 2024. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.