MEX – Soles win Game 5 overtime thriller to stay alive in Mexican LNBP Finals

MEXICALI (LNBP) - Soles de Mexicali forced a Game 6 in the LNBP Finals with a thrilling home triumph over defending champions Halcones UV Xalapa on Sunday night.

In a title tilt between the two Mexican sides that competed in this year's FIBA Americas League, Soles prevailed 105-102. Abdul Mills of Xalapa scored a game-high 36 points but it was Greg Lewis and Anthony Pedroza who came up with the match-winning plays at the end for Soles.

Pedroza (26 pts), whose three-pointer closed the gap to 102-101 inside the final minute of overtime, sank two free throws with 20 seconds left to give the home side a 103-102 advantage.

Lewis (27 pts and 12 rebounds) then swatted a Mills shot with just three seconds left to preserve the triumph.

Xalapa led by as many as 11 early in the third quarter only for Soles to battle back and go in front 60-55 following two James Penny free throws.

The visitors dug in, however, and a three-pointer by Mills with 24 seconds to go in the frame lifted them back into a 64-62 lead.

A technical foul on Lewis just after the third-quarter buzzer allowed Mills to go to the charity stripe and sink two free throws for Xalapa, and Johnson then buried a three 17 seconds into the final quarter to cap a 14-2 run and put the visiting team on top at 69-62.

Soles stayed within striking distance and when DeJuan Wheat's shot from the arc fell through the hoop with 1:50 remaining, Soles had gone ahead again at 83-82.

The lead changed hands five times before a Pedroza basket knotted the contest at 89-89 with 13 seconds left.

Xalapa held on to the ball for the last shot and Mills uncorked an attempt from long range but missed and the game went to overtime.

Twice Xalapa went in front by six points in the extra period, the second time after a basket by Mills with 2:32 to go, only for Pedroza, Lewis and Wheat (16 pts) to bring Soles back.

Pedroza made a three-pointer to cut the gap to 102-101 with 47 seconds to play and after a Mills miss, Pedroza drew a foul and went to the stripe to make his go-ahead free throws.

Lewis then came up with his third block of the game when denying Mills three seconds from the end to seal victory.

FIBA