The Niners Chemnitz have celebrated their second win of the season in the Basketball Bundesliga. After trailing 43–48 at half-time, the Saxons went on to secure a comfortable 94–78 victory over MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg thanks to a strong third quarter.
In front of 3,858 spectators at the Messe Chemnitz, the visitors got off to the better start. Thomas Rutherford (19 PTS, 15 REB) scored Ludwigsburg’s first points and was virtually unstoppable under the basket. The centre racked up nine points in the first quarter alone. Yorman Polas Bartolo extended the lead to 10–14 with a three-pointer. Chemnitz stayed in the game until Justin Kier hit a three-pointer with one second remaining in the quarter to make it 18–23.
In the second quarter, too, much of the play revolved around Rutherford. With two quick baskets, he made it 18–27, Ludwigsburg’s biggest lead of the evening. The Niners responded patiently: Stefan Smith (14 PTS, 5 AST, 3 STL) kept drawing free throws, whilst Ryan Mikesell narrowed the gap to 29–31 with a three-pointer. A 6–0 run by Smith and Mikesell brought the hosts to within 42–44, and Polas Bartolo scored to make it 43–48 with ten seconds remaining before the break. By this point, Rutherford had already scored 17 points.
Burnham’s four-point play turns the tide
After the break, the Niners turned the game around. Ben Burnham (16 PTS, 6/7 FG) opened with a basket, whilst Ceaser (19 PTS, 9/10 two-pointers) put the hosts back in front for the first time since 7–5 with a three-point play to make it 52–50. Ishmael Leggett’s equaliser to make it 52–52 was followed by a 9–1 run: King scored from outside, then Burnham sank a three-pointer plus a bonus free-throw to make it 59–53 and immediately added another basket to make it 61–53. The forward scored nine of his 16 points in this period. The Saxons won the third quarter 24–10.
In the final quarter, the home side quickly sealed the victory. The run, which had begun with Williams’ three-pointer, extended to 13–0: Mikesell (12 PTS) with a three-pointer, Williams again from outside, and Seric and Ceaser took the score to 77–58. That sealed the deal.
The shooting percentage proved decisive: Chemnitz converted 54 per cent of their field goals and 26 out of 36 two-pointers, whilst Ludwigsburg, despite 20 offensive rebounds, managed only 39 per cent and scored just 10 out of 34 three-pointers. Patrick Cartier sealed the final score of 94–78 with a three-pointer in the final second.
With two wins from seven games, the Niners have moved up to 16th place, level on points with Rasta Vechta and Phoenix Hagen. Ludwigsburg (4–3) are currently in sixth place. However, as not all matches on Matchday 7 have been played yet, the table is merely a snapshot. Chemnitz are back in action in the Eurocup as early as Tuesday, 3 November: at 7 pm, the Saxons – who have a 4:1 record in the competition – will be away to Buducnost Podgorica. In the league, they face Vechta – who are level on points and sit just below them in the table – on Saturday 7 November at 8 pm. The Giants then host Oldenburg on Sunday 8 November at 4.30 pm.