Amazon edged Black Lions 77-76 in Grimler after a tense finish. Black Lions opened brighter behind Denis Wirtz and Olivier Summer to lead 24-20 after the first quarter. Amazon, driven by Emanuel Loncaric and Lorenzo Merci, flipped the momentum in the second to reach halftime up 38-37.
The third quarter swung wildly. Tom Schumacher and Summer fueled a 9-0 Black Lions burst to 48-41, capped by a Schumacher three, prompting an Amazon timeout. Luke Feldman immediately answered from deep and Merci followed with timely scoring; late baskets from Erik Jenchenne and Loncaric restored Amazon's lead, 60-57, entering the fourth.
Early in the final period Amazon stretched it to 67-59, their largest advantage (+8), despite a U2 unsportsmanlike on Bruno Monfils that gave Schumacher two free throws. Amazon rebuilt a 73-66 cushion, but the game turned into a one-man surge: Schumacher scored all 19 of Black Lions' fourth-quarter points. He strung together free throws, buried the tying three (75-75) and then nudged BLD ahead 76-75 at the line after a Jenchenne foul. The decisive reply came from Mattia Coghetto, whose late two put Amazon back in front 77-76. Two timeouts in the final minute couldn't change the outcome.
Top performers
- Amazon: Loncaric 24 (all from twos), Merci 19 (four threes) before fouling out, Riccardo Visone 13, Coghetto 10 with the game-winner. Feldman 5 fouled out but hit a key third-quarter three.
- Black Lions: Schumacher 34, including 16 made free throws and two threes; Wirtz 19 with steady inside work and a triple; Summer 16; Angelo Barnellini 7.
Coach Blas Moreno Rodriguez's side held its nerve after losing Merci and Feldman to five fouls. Coach Tom Schroeder rode Schumacher's hot hand, but Black Lions fell one possession short.
(AI generated)