FILE – Toyama Grouses huddle up during their game against the Osaka Evessa in the Japan B.League. Photo from Toyama Grouses Instagram
MANILA, Philippines—Toyama and Dwight Ramos suffered an 84-79 loss Hiroshima, 84-79 to open the New Year in the West Conference of the 2021-22 Japan B.League season Saturday at FPCO Arena Fukuyama.
The Grouses slipped to an 8-17 record for the ninth seed in the conference while the Dragonflies improved to 16-9 at the fourth spot.
Hiroshima had to dig deep into the latter stages of the game as it broke away from a 75-75 tie with 3:28 to play.
Nick Mayo converted on a jumper to give the Dragonflies an 82-79 lead with 1:26 to play and went 2-of-4 from the line to seal the win for the home team.
Terashima Ryo had 18 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals to lead Hiroshima while Mayo added 16 points and five boards.
Joshua Smith led the Grouses with 19 points and 16 rebounds while Ramos went scoreless on 3:24 off the bench.
Defending champion Chiba blasted Shinshu, 92-74, in its inter-conference matchup at its home floor of Funabashi Arena.
The Jets improved to a 19-6 record to lead the East while the Brave Warriors dropped to 10-15 at the seventh spot in the West.
Josh Duncan had 18 points and six rebounds while Christopher Smith had 16 points, four rebounds, and four assists to lead Chiba.
Josh Hawkinson led the Brave Warriors with 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists to lead Shinshu.
Matthew Aquino did not play for Shinshu.