Toyama’s Dwight Ramos, left, is being guarded by San-En’s Thirdy Ravena during their game in the Japan B.League. Photo from Toyama Grouses
MANILA, Philippines—Matsui Keijiro hit the game-winner as Toyama escaped with a 90-89 over San-En on Sunday in the West Conference of the 2021-22 Japan B.League season.
The Grouses have now won three straight games, two of which came at the expense of the NeoPhoenix, and are now at 4-10.
Matsui drilled a jumper with barely a second left to give Toyama a 90-88 lead. San-En had the chance to force overtime at the free throw line after Thirdy Ravena was fouled with 0.6 tenths of a second left but he clanked his second try allowing the Grouses to hold on.
第4Q残り2.2秒同点の場面。
富山#16 松井が渾身のジャンパーを沈め、激闘に幕を下ろす！@kjmts16 @toyamagrouses📡バスケットLIVEで見逃し視聴https://t.co/HUIlCpDrOc#Bリーグ pic.twitter.com/RzHhMuPQ8b
— B.LEAGUE（Bリーグ） (@B_LEAGUE) November 14, 2021
Dwight Ramos gave Toyama an 88-85 lead with 52 seconds to play before Ravena knotted the count with a gutsy 3-pointer with two seconds left.
The NeoPhoenix, who had a promising start to the season, have now lost six straight games to slid to 3-11 in the standings.
【試合速報】第1Q終了
北陸コカ・コーラボトリングpresentsホームゲーム vs三遠ネオフェニックス富山 19－18 三遠#ジュリアンマブンガ 選手と #ドワイトラモス 選手のアリウープ🤝
💥💥Alley-oop💥💥📱バスケットLIVEで応援！https://t.co/OyhkyWIFln#富山グラウジーズ #喰らいつけ #Bリーグ pic.twitter.com/HrQ2cRTZPg
— 富山グラウジーズ (@toyamagrouses) November 14, 2021
Joshua Smith led the Grouses with 19 points and 11 rebounds while Ramos had his own double-double of 16 points, on an efficient 6-of-11 shooting, and 10 boards.
Ravena finished with a game-high 26 points with nine rebounds, five assists, and three steals to lead San-En while Robert Carter added 20 points and five rebounds.