At first it seemed like the teams would extend the fifteen-minute break after starting again. But it was again the strong defense on both sides that set the tone after the break. With a threesome, Kameron Taylor put the first points of the second half on the scoreboard after more than two minutes (42:37, 23rd). A short phase in which both opponents found gaps near the basket caused the score to skyrocket only marginally (44:41, 25th). The game continued to determine the defense work. And the towers benefited primarily from this. For more than five minutes, Pedro Calles’ team only allowed their counterparts one successful conclusion. At the same time, the Towers managed to develop a new cushion either close to the basket – like Terry Allen after a strong offensive rebound – or point by point at the free-throw line. The guests from Hamburg only allowed eight points in the third quarter, with the last two Gabric put the score at 54:45 at the end of the section.
The Oldenburg team increased the clock frequency at the beginning of the final section with five fast counters. Despite two points from TJ Shorts in the meantime, Gabric brought Lower Saxony back into the game (56:53, 32nd). After a shorts three, Pedro Calles gave his team an important breather with a break – first Kameron Taylor, then TJ Shorts braced themselves against sharp-shooting Oldenburgers (63:56, 34th). Then the pace slowed down again, the Towers found more access defensively and kept Oldenburg at a distance after a free throw from Maik Kotsar. Interrupted by a Hobbs threesome, TJ Shorts put two offensive pinpricks and forced Oldenburg to time out (68:63, 37th). Thanks to a three from Terry Allen and two successful free throws from TJ Shorts, the Towers managed to defend their lead for another two minutes (73:67, 39th). TJ Shorts provoked an Oldenburg ball loss with quick hands, on the other hand Justus Hollatz kept control of the drive and increased it (75:67, 39th). Two more points from Maik Kotsar ensured a double-digit lead 50 seconds before the end of regular time – and the preliminary decision. After two free throws by the center it was finally over, the 80:74 home win, the ninth success in a row and the playoff entry perfect.
Towers Statistics: Shorts (22 points, 4 rebounds), Swing (8), DiLeo (3), K. Taylor (8, 9 rebounds, 6 ass.), Kotsar (15, 8 rebounds), Richter (4), Hollatz (9), Allen (9, 8 Reb.), Cuthbertson (2)
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