Number six in a row: Bayern wins in Bayreuth

It was the fourth game since last Sunday, the third of which was away from home - but the Bayern basketball team also solved this task in Bayreuth. With an 87-78 victory, head coach Andrea Trinchieri's team improved its BBL record to 4-1 on Sunday, and they improve their winning streak to six games. 

Hosts Bayreuth tried zone for a long time on defense, but the FCBB solved this in commanding fashion early on (22-16/10th). A short Franconian streak with threes and a lot of aggressiveness in one-on-one gave them the lead until shortly after the break (35-30/22.) - then the solid defense of Munich took hold and they decisively pulled away to 78-65.

Augustine Rubit (17), Othello Hunter (14), Corey Walden, Ognjen Jaramaz (12 each) and Nick Weiler-Babb (11) scored in double figures in front of 2,712 spectators. Deschaun Thomas, Vladimir Lucic and the ill Zan Mark Sikso rested and the team is still missing Leon Radosevic and Paul Zipser to injury.

Bayern traveled on Sunday evening to Würzburg, where they will conclude their Franconian BBL doubleheader on Tuesday (Nov. 2, 20:30./MagentaSport). They will then be back in front of their fans at home in the Audi Dome on Friday evening (20:30) - in the EuroLeague highlight against Real Madrid.

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Points per quarter Bayern - Bayreuth: 22-16, 22-30, 27-16, 16-16.

Stats: Two-point shooting: 60 % (FCBB) // 47 % (Bayreuth); Three-point shooting: 35 % // 39 %; Free-throw shooting: 86 % // 72 %; Rebounds: 32 // 35; Assists: 21 // 17; Turnovers: 9 // 11.

Quotes:

Andrea Trinchieri: "It was a very intense game, as it often is in Bayreuth. They have a good coach who I respect a lot and who maximizes their potential. But I think we had a solid game, especially in the second half. We moved and shot the ball well and controlled the game. We are coming off two games in the EuroLeague where there was a lot of contact; today we had foul trouble after five minutes. However, we found a way to adapt and deserved the win, I think. Because we played smart and defended well in the second half. (...) It's a team win again because we distributed the responsibility: When you see Djedovic and Hilliard, two scorers, playing defense like that against Thornton, it's much easier for the coach. Then you don't have as fresh legs as a scorer on offense, so someone else there does your job - it's a team sport. (...) We always want to play for the win. Sometimes a lot of things work out and it goes smoothly like against Milan, but sometimes you have to struggle like here. They played with a high tempo and hit tough shots in the first half. My job with this game plan is to find enough players with energy for the squad, mental and physical energy."  

Augustine Rubit: "The calmness is due to my personality. That's a good and a bad trait. Sometimes it's good to radiate calmness, sometimes you should come out of yourself more to push your teammates. I have to improve on the latter. Bayreuth's zone defense over 40 minutes was unusual. We rather relaxed on defense and on offense their very good scorers were able to come through. In the first half, that caused us problems to match their energy. However, after the busy week, we found a way to muster the energy in the second half. We are well prepared, as a good team you just have less time to relax. We only have a very short break now because we already have the next tasks coming up. Every game is a tough battle, we have to be prepared."

Game Recap:

Corey Walden, Ognjen Jaramaz, Nihad Djedovic, Augustine Rubit and Gavin Schilling were initially given the nod as starters at the behest of FCBB coach Andrea Trinchieri. In view of their considerable personnel problems, Bayreuth started with a zone defense. The Munich team had no problems with that at first and went up 5-0 within 60 seconds. Bayreuth's Marcus Thornton played a key role and kept his team in the game (16-12/7th minute). Thanks to an intensified defense and quick switching to offense the FCBB maintained the lead - 22-16 after the first quarter.

Bayreuth came out of the quarter break much more aggressively and former Bayern playr Bastian Doreth equalized with a three-pointer at 22-22 - timeout Trinchieri. Walden was fouled on a three-point attempt, and he converted all three of his free throws for Munich (27-24/13.).

The FCBBunlike the hosts, had rather no problems against the zone to get open shots, they just coudn't make them. The Upper Franconians, on the other hand, scored and took the lead (32-30/15th). An 8-0 run from the hard-nosed Bayreuth team was stopped but Bayern fought on (38-37/17th). Jaramaz courageously knocked in a three-pointer from eight meters (40-38/17.) before Thornton ran hot and secured the Upper Franconians the lead at halftime - 46-44.

Bayern needed almost two minutes for the first bucket after the change of ends, but Jaramaz's fourth three-pointer initiated a 8-0 run (52-49/23.). Munich's defense became more gripping and left its mark on Bayreuth's scoring, allowing Trinchieri's team to pull away slightly (56-51/26). Augustine Rubit was the dominant player in this phase with seven points in a row (59-53/27). One three-pointer each from Hilliard and one from Obst continued the solid quarter for the FCBB (65-58/29). Djedovic took the lead to double-digits for the first time with a basket (69-58/29). After 30 minutes, the Munich team was ahead 71-62.

A monster block by Othello Hunter should storm the Top10 highlights while Rubit, on the other hand, scored calmly and reliably. An extremely cool three-pointer by Hilliard forced Bayreuth to call a timeout (78-65/34). A tough defense played a big roll and the opponent was kept at a distance (80-69/36). After a Trinchieri timeout Corey Walden sank a three-pointer for an 83-71 lead (37). The will of the FCBB was remarkable in view of the current frequency of games, clearly visible in the aggressive follow-up on the offensive rebound. Hunter was promptly on the spot - 85-74 (39.). The expected comeback attempt by Bayreuth was nipped in the bud by top scorer Rubit (87-76/40), and the highly deserved victory was no longer to be taken away from Munich.

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