Syntainics MBC loses East derby against Jena

The German league basketball club Syntainics MBC was unable to halt its negative streak at the start of the new year. The team of Head Coach Marco Ramondino lost 86:95 (50:44) to newly promoted Science City Jena in front of its home crowd on Saturday evening and so suffered its fourth defeat in succession.

Khyri Thomas was the MBC's best scorer with 22 points (14:14) in front of 3,000 spectators. Keith Braxton Jr. scored 22 points for Jena (10:16), which won for the first time after five defeats. Joe Wieskamp shone with 20 points and 13 rebounds.

Hosts flagging towards the end

The MBC struggled to get into the game and had problems with the visitors' quick transition play, which enabled them to pull 40:33 ahead by the 17th minute. After that, the club from Weißenfels burst into life in offense. It produced a 16:4 run to take the lead at half-time and stretched it to 70:61 (28'), in particular thanks to its accuracy from the foul line.

However, the club from Thuringia did not give up. They stepped up their game in defense and tied the scores at 78:78 midway through the final quarter against the home side, which was flagging badly. With 116 seconds remaining, Eric Washington drained a three to put the newly promoted club 87:85 ahead and it did not let anything else get in its way after that.