The Hakro Merlins Crailsheim have ended their series of defeats in the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) after a mega comeback.
On the 10th matchday, the bottom team won 87:84 (28:45) against newly promoted Tigers Tübingen despite a temporary 26-point deficit. The MLP Academics Heidelberg lost in the bottom of the table, but BG Göttingen also gained some breathing room.
It was the first win for the Crailsheim team since the opening game against the Rostock Seawolves in September. And for a long time it looked like the ninth bankruptcy in a row. It was 32:58 in the 24th minute, then the Tigers’ lead melted away. Brandon Childress took the lead (85:84) with 74 seconds left, and James Murray-Boyles made the final score with two free throws.
For the Merlins it was the first success in the fifth BBL duel with Tübingen. Childress and Murray-Boyles (both 18 points) were the Tigers’ top scorers.
Heidelberg lost to the MHP giants Ludwigsburg after a great fight 72:75 (36:34) and is now second to last with a 2:8 record, as Göttingen beat the Bamberg Baskets 92:85 (50:46). With the win, the BG (3:7) left relegation place 17 and climbed one position. Crailsheim (2:8) remains 18th.