Black Lions came back from a difficult first half to beat Team Teaching 97-84 in Grimler. The visitors were clearly sharper early, leading 30-18 after the first quarter and still 50-47 at halftime. Team Teaching's best phase came with Xavier Engel (TEA) setting the tone offensively; he had 16 points in the opening quarter and helped build a highest lead of 13 points. Luc Kirpach (TEA) also stretched the defense well and all 84 TEA points came from the starting five.
The game shifted in the third quarter. Black Lions won that period 22-15 and gradually wore down the visitors. Tom Schumacher (BLD) was central to that change. He finished with 30 points and produced a key 6-point personal run in the third quarter before hitting the three that gave Black Lions the lead again at 64-63. Olivier Summer (BLD) added 20 points, while Denis Wirtz (BLD) scored 14.
With the score at 64-65 after three quarters, the winner was still very much undecided. Black Lions then opened the fourth with a 7-0 run to move in front 71-65. Nils Schroeder (BLD), coming from the bench, was important in that stretch and ended with 17 points. Fränk Fasbender (BLD) added 10 and gave the home team extra interior scoring.
Team Teaching stayed alive through Engel (TEA), who also finished with 30 points, and his 6 straight free throws cut the gap from 87-75 to 87-81. Around that sequence, Black Lions coach Tom Schroeder received a B1 and two C1 technical fouls and was fouled out. Black Lions still answered immediately with 10 unanswered points to break the game open at 97-81. Kirpach (TEA) finished with 20 points, Daniel Weyrich (TEA) had 14, and Fernand Musquar (TEA) plus Charel Oly (TEA) scored 10 each.
(AI generated)