Incredible course of the game in Karlsruhe

What a thriller: BBC Bayreuth lost 81:82 after overtime at PS Karlsruhe Lions in the BARMER 2nd German Basketball League Pro A this evening. Bayreuth was still five points ahead with 7.3 seconds left in regulation time.

BBC Bayreuth began the encounter with its starting five of Moritz Plescher, Marios Giotis, Selim Fofana, Aaron Carver and Esa Ahmad against Karlsruhe, who were level on points before the game. Both teams initially struggled to find their rhythm. It was not until after more than three minutes that Esa Ahmad scored Bayreuth's first points with a slam-dunk to make it 2:4. Shortly afterwards, Esa Ahmad put Bayreuth 16:9 in front for the first time with what was now his fifth point.

Esa Ahmad remained Bayreuth's key player at the start of the second quarter and the PS Lions were barely able to get a grip on him. Nevertheless, Karlsruhe gradually got into the game much better and equalised at 23:23. However, Esa Ahmad responded with his twelfth and thirteenth points to make it 25:23 in favour of the BBC. The lead then changed hands several times and the game remained close. Bayreuth led 35:32 at half-time after Selim Fofana drained another three at the buzzer.

Karlsruhe got off to a strong start in the third period and took a 38:35 lead. Selim Fofana scored Bayreuth's first points in the second half with two free throws. However, the home side struck back and went 41:37 in front in the Lina Radke-Halle, which was sold out with 1,500 spectators. It was not until almost five minutes into the third quarter that Bayreuth scored its first bucket from the floor by Aaron Carver to make it 39:41. Karlsruhe then pulled away to 45:39, but Esa Ahmad reduced the deficit to 41:45 and Philip Jalalpoor made it 43:45. Shane Gatling made it 55:49 at the end of the third quarter.

Karlsruhe quickly equalised again after a three-pointer and a subsequent lay-up by Lachlan Dent to make it 55:55. The visitors made it 68:67 with 102 seconds remaining. Aaron Carver made it 70:67 for the BBC at the other end. Bayreuth seemed to be the certain winner. Total madness then ensued in the final 7.3 seconds: First O' Showen Williams drained a three. Then the BBC lost the ball at the throw-in and Melvin Jostmann equalised at the buzzer to make it 72:72 - overtime!

Moritz Plescher was ruled out for the BBC due to injury in overtime. Shane Gatling put Bayreuth 74:72 in front with free throws, then a three by Karlsruhe and a three by Shane Gatling - 77:75. Esa Ahmad then missed two free throws. At the other end, Jesse Ani recaptured the lead with two free throws to make it 80:78. Lachlan Dent made two free throws with 2.3 seconds remaining to make it 82:78. Bayreuth did not give up, however, and Lenny Liedtke drained a three to make it 81:82. However, it was too late with 0.6 seconds remaining and Karlsruhe had won 82:81.

BBC Head Coach Mladen Drijencic was visibly still a little dejected after the encounter and said he was very proud of his team. "We could certainly have played a little differently in some situations, but in the end all the players are winners in this game," said Mladen Drijencic.

BBC Bayreuth continues its campaign in the main round with a home game against RASTA Vechta II on Friday, 22 December 2023.