| 03.12.2003
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Jason Sasser (Bamberg) led all players with 19 points in the clash against Tel Aviv
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| Bamberg is back on track with a last second 73-69 win against the strong team from Hapoel Tel Aviv. After two embarrassing losses in the FIBA Europe League and the national championship Bamberg hosted Tel Aviv for a decisive game for the play-off berths. The guests played a hard pressing defense right from the start, which caused some problems for Bamberg running their systems as usual. The press resulted in an unusal amount of turnovers for the home side.
Nevertheless, the first quarter ended 15-18, because Bamberg could rely on inside force Chris Ensminger, who grabbed 6 boards in the first 10 minutes.
Led by young point guard Steffen Hamann with his energised play, Bamberg opened the second period with a 7-0 run and took the 22-18 lead. But Tel Aviv struck back with the power of Michael Wright inside. As a result the game was about equal until the break when the scoreboard showed a 30-28 lead for the home site.
Bamberg got the better start in the second half and after a successful three-pointer from American forward Jason Sasser went ahead with 7 points. But the Israeli national team guard Lior Lubin took control with some nice drives to the hoop. Tel Aviv tied the score 45-45 and even hit a downtown-shot at the buzzer to achieve a 51-48 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
But GHP wasn`t shocked. Bamberg had some nice offensive plays and hit 3 outside shots between the 30th and 32nd minute. However, it was the duo Lior Lubin and Michael Wright again, who brought the Reds back on track.
With five minutes to go the score was tied at 60 and the game developed into a thriller. No team managed to get a larger margin between them an the opponent. 68-68 was the score 1:37 before the end, when Steffen Hamann hit only one penalty shot for a one point lead that lasted until 0:44.
A.J. Guyton missed a long distance shot and well-experienced 40-year-old guard Derrick Taylor took the chance to provide the home team a 71-68 lead with two successful shots from the line.
On the next possession Jasmin Hukic hit one of two and after an offensive rebound by Mike Nahar Derrick Taylor again went to the line and made no mistake to set the game winning shots for a 73-69 victory.
MVP of the game: Steffen Hamann (Bamberg) with 14 points.
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