GER - On-song Berlin open three-game lead in BBL

BERLIN (BBL) - Alba Berlin extended their winning streak to nine games and opened a three-game lead after EnBW Ludwigsburg lost at home to Brose Baskets Bamberg in Germany's BBL League.

Chris Owens collected 23 points and eight rebounds as Berlin eased by Walter Tigers Tubingen 71-60 to move to 25-5 atop the league.

Julius Jenkins added 12 points, while 11 players scored at least one point and grabbed at least one rebound for Alba.

"This was a hard-earned victory, not exactly an attractive game. We worked very well today on defence. That's our trademark," said Berlin coach Henrik Rodl.

Berlin's nine-game winning streak is their second longest of the season after winning 10 consecutive.

And the win comes two days before Berlin's big game Sunday at second-placed Ludwigsburg.
"Against Ludwigsburg though, we have to improve," Rodl warned.

Ludwigsburg are in a serious dogfight for second place after losing at home to Bamberg 57-53 to remain just one game ahead of the 2005 champions.

Casey Jacobsen scored 22 points and Darren Fenn added 10 for Bamberg, who won for the 10th time in 11 games to improve to 21-9 to Ludwigsburg's 22-8.

Despite out-rebounding Bamberg 41-30, Ludwigsburg struggled from three-point range, making just three of 22 shots and Je'Kel Foster scored just six points - nine below his average.

"Our defence against Ludwigsburg's three-point shooting worked exactly as I had planned. We did a good job taking Foster out of the game, and I'm very happy we won this game," said Bamberg coach Dirk Bauermann.

Jerry Green led the way for Ludwigsburg with 17 points.

Meanwhile, defending champions RheinEnergie Koln continued their struggles with an 85-74 loss at Bayer Giants Leverkusen for their third loss in five games.
Koln fell to 20-10 - one game behind Bamberg.

Derrick Allen scored 21 points as Leverkusen remained alive in the hunt for the play-offs at 16-14 - at ninth place currently.

Richard Guinn-Thomas' 18 points led four players in double figures for Eisbaren Bremerhaven, who knocked off Deutsche Bank Skyliners 75-63 to improve to 19-11 for fifth place.

Frankfurt dropped their seventh in nine games and are one of two teams with a 14-16 record in the play-off chase.

Paderborn got 25 points from Tim Black and 24 from Sergerio Gipson in a 78-69 win over Telekom Baskets Bonn to improve to 13-16.

Bonn dropped their second straight and third in four games to move to 19-12 in sixth place.
Six players scored in double figures as Artland Dragons finally returned to their winning ways with a 92-74 home victory over TBB Trier (10-20) to move back into the play-off ranks at 16-14.

EWE Baskets Oldenburg hold the final play-off spot - also at 16-14 - after a 104-88 win at last-placed Karlsruhe, who dropped their 25th straight game for a 2-28 record.

Desmond Penigar scored 24 points for Oldenburg, while Domonic Jones had 19 for Karlsruhe.

Ratiopharm Ulm lost to Giessen 46ers 75-69 to drop to 15-15. Giessen moved to 10-20.

Sellbytel Baskets Nurnberg lost their eighth straight game, 85-84 at New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig, to officially become the second team to go down.

FIBA