The Braunschweig Lions have celebrated reaching the last 16 of the BBL Cup in front of Dennis Schröder. MLP Academics Heidelberg prevailed against Veolia Towers Hamburg, while Göttingen struggled at second-division side Phoenix Hagen
On the 31st birthday of DBB captain and Lions shareholder Dennis Schröder, the team gave the NBA player a nice present and the victory at second-division club Jena was never in danger. After a good start, the visitors led by double digits for almost the entire game (at times the difference was 24 points) and it was only in the fourth quarter that the club from Jena came back into contention, but it was not possible to reduce the deficit to more than six points.
Luka Scuka scored 15 points for the visitors, while T.J. Crokkett Jr. (13) and Ferdinard Zylka (11) also scored. Zach Cooks (20) was the top scorer for Jena, while former international Robin Christen added 15 points and seven rebounds. The Lions now face RASTA Vechta in the round of 16 final
Heidelberg wins BBL duel against Towers
Heidelberg’s outstanding man was forward Ryan Mikesell, who had already played under new coach Danny Jansson in Tübingen two years ago. The 27-year-old recorded 25 points (6/16 FG, 12/14 FT), nine rebounds and three steals, while the American also picked up two unsportsmanlike fouls in the fourth quarter alone
Alex Barcello also impressed, scoring 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists from the guard position and cutting the home side’s lead to +7 with a three with around three minutes remaining. By contrast, the newly formed Hamburg side fell short of expectations. The three Americans Brae Ivey (16, 6/13 FG), Jaizec Lottie (25, 7/11 FG) and Keondre Kennedy (12) scored in double digits, while center Kur Kuath (8, 9 rebounds) scraped a double-double.
Göttingen scraps its way into the round of 16
After Crailsheim, Hagen was the second second-division team to narrowly miss out on the round of 16. Phoenix Hagen fought its way back into the game with a good final quarter and even held a narrow lead in crunch time, but a three by Deion Hammond (14, 5/9) put the visitors on the road to victory. Hagen had two more chances to force overtime in the final ten seconds, but failed on both occasions.
Hagen snapped up 16 offensive rebounds, but was not able to capitalize on them. Center Demajeo Wiggins (23, 9/11, 8 rebounds) and Jimmy Boeheim (18) were conspicuous for Göttingen, while Collin Welp contributed twelve points to the victory.
Göttingen will therefore host the FIT/One Würzburg Baskets, who had a bye in the first round, in the round of 16. Heidelberg will face the Niners Chemnitz. In the late game of the afternoon, Löwen Braunschweig will also host Science City Jena.