© Sportreport
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The UBSC Raiffeisen Graz wins a defensive game against the BK IMMOunited Dukes with 70:61. the Styrians start much better and control the game until half-time.
After that, it’s the Dukes who fight their way back with a strong defense. But it is no longer enough for the turnaround. UBSC, led by its strong legionnaires, is taking an important home win with regard to the play-off race.
UBSC Raiffeisen Graz vs. BK IMMOunited Dukes
70:61 (18:10, 39:28, 55:49)
Wednesday, 7 p.m. – Raiffeisen Sportpark Graz
In their own hall and with the fans behind them, the Graz team made a lightning start and made it 11-0 in five minutes. After this initial shock, the Klosterneuburg offensive but gradually found their rhythm. Quarter one went clearly to UBSC with 18:10. In the second section, the Styrians put forward again and in the meantime controlled the game with a 15-point lead. Especially Haynes, Varner and Applewhite dominated in this phase – the US legionnaires trio from Graz contributed all 21 points in this section. Again the Dukes caught up in a row and shortened to 28:39 by the break. After the interruption, the game was still characterized by runs, but overall the Lower Austrians now showed a lot of determination and an improved defense, so that the gap melted until the final quarter (49:55). There an open exchange of blows finally developed, in which the Dukes even came close to minus two. That evening there wasn’t more for the guests than that and the Graz team secured a 70:61 victory without ever giving up the lead.
Ervin Dragšič, Coach Graz: “Congratulations to my team, we showed high intensity in defense, we only got 61 points. We made a lot of mistakes on the offensive, of course, but now there are games in which nervousness is decisive. The throwing rate was very poor for both teams, but we led from the first to the last second and deservedly won. “
Lukas Simoner, Graz player: “We are very satisfied with the performance today. We made it a little difficult for ourselves by letting them come back at the end. But by and large we have set ourselves a victory and implemented it. “
Chris O´Shea, Coach Dukes: “Congratulations to Graz and Coach Dragšič. They have proven again why they have been at the top of the table all season. You play with a lot of energy and team spirit. Today we showed again why we play in the lower half of the table and why we will in the near future. We have to come back in the new year and secure the best possible place in the play-down. “
James Murray-Boyle, Player Dukes: “It was okay, we could have played better. In the first half you came up with stupid fouls and some bad whistles, in my opinion. I like how we fought our way back in the second half. We’re still working on integrating our new players into the team. I think we are moving in the right direction, we just have to keep working. “
Best Scorer: Varner 28, Haynes 15, Applewhite 14 (11 Reb) bzw. Murray-Boyles 16, Bauer 11, Oikonomopoulos 9.
BK IMMOunited Dukes lose in Graz
:: Press-Information
Klosterneuburg, 29.12.2021
UBSC Raiffeisen Graz vs. BK IMMOunited Dukes 70:61 (39:28)
The BK IMMOunited Dukes caught up a higher deficit several times, but the favored UBSC Raiffeisen Graz still won in the end.
Graz wanted to make it clear from the start that they were favorites in the game and quickly made it 11-0. The Klosterneuburg offense didn’t work at all, they needed more than five minutes before they scored for the first time. From this point on, the Dukes found their way into the game better, but the hosts clearly won the first quarter with 18:10.
The Styrians also kept control in the second part of the game and pulled away to 35:20 by the middle of the game. Hardly anything worked for the Klosterneuburgers, but the half-time lead of the hosts of 39:28 was still in a catch-up area.
After changing sides, at -8 you had the feeling that the Klosterneuburg team could finally catch up and make the game open. This hope was quickly dashed and the Graz team increased to 48:33. The Dukes did not give up, came closer step by step and reduced it to four points. With 55:49 for Graz everything was open again before the final quarter.
The Klosterneuburg team was finally able to fully counter this and were on two points three minutes before the end. In the decisive phase, the Dukes simply didn’t act clever enough, so UBSC took a close victory in a moderate game.
Chris O’Shea, Head Coach of the Dukes: “Congratulations to Graz, you have proven again why you are at the front. You play with a lot of energy and team spirit. We showed, however, why we play along below. We made too many mistakes and have to come back stronger in the new year. “
James Murray-Boyles, Dukes player: “The game was okay, they took a lead in the first half and we made stupid fouls. We fought in the second half and now have to keep working on ourselves. “
Ervin Dragsic, head coach of Graz: “I congratulate my team, we defended with great intensity. Of course we made a lot of mistakes in the offense, the throwing rate was poor on both sides, but I think we deserved to win. “
Lukas Simoner, player from Graz: “We are very satisfied with the performance today. We made life very difficult for ourselves, but in the end we implemented what we wanted and deservedly won. “
UBSC Raiffeisen Graz vs. BK IMMOunited Dukes 70:61
(18:10, 21:18, 16:21, 15:12)
Werfer Dukes: Murray-Boyles 16, Bauer 11, Oikonomopolous 9, Mullings 8, Joyce 6, Blazevic 4, Jakubowski 4, Bavcic 3
Thrower Graz: Varner 28, Haynes 15, Applewhite 14, Isbetcherian 7, Giddings 6
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Press info
Basketball Austria
BSL
BK IMMOunited Dukes
29.12.2021
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