The MHP giants Ludwigsburg started the quarter-final series of the Basketball Champions League with a narrow defeat.
The Bundesliga team lost the first duel at U-BT Cluj-Napoca 73:76 (34:37). In a second defeat against the Romanian club, the Swabians are eliminated.
The Ludwigsburg got off to a better start with an aggressive defense, but did not find their rhythm offensively: In the first quarter, the guests only scored 13 points. In the second round, the Swabians repeatedly brought the ball close to the basket, with Ethan Happ in particular convincing there. At the break, Ludwigsburg was still 34:37 behind.
The Bundesliga side gained momentum with a 13-2 run in the middle of the third round, but Cluj-Napoca turned the game around in the last round with a couple of successful three-pointers. In the final seconds, Ludwigsburg’s top scorer Jonah Radebaugh (16 points) had the chance to equalize, but missed his three.
The quarter-finals in the Champions League will be played in “best of three” format. The first team to win two games advances to the semi-finals. On April 13, the Ludwigsburg receive the club from Romania for the second game.