Oldenburg survives Buducnost's late rally

EWE Baskets Oldenburg survived a furious charge from host Buducnost VOLI Podgorica to score an 83-85 victory on Wednesday at Moraca Arena. Oldenburg looked comfortable for long spells, but Buducnost, with its fans roaring on, never said die. The hosts turned a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter into a one-point lead before falling to 0-5 on the season. Rickey Paulding scored 21 to lead the winners, while Rasid Mahalbasic posted 15 plus 8 rebounds. Braydon Hobbs and Nathan Boone added 12 points each. Justin Cobbs paced Buducnost with 17 points, Hassan Martin had 1 and. Nikola Ivanovic scored 13.

The game got off to a lively start as Buducnost trailed 4-5 after Philipp Schwethelm landed the first three of the night. Hobbs hit another three to give Oldenburg the lead back at 8-11 midway through the quarter. The visitors were hot from beyond the arch and Boothe got in on the act to make it 12-16. Martin, with 4 unanswered points, brought the two sides level at 16-16. A sloppy end to the quarter by Buducnost saw Oldenburg take a lead of 18-23, but Petar Popovic landed a three and we went to the bench at 21-23. Alexa Ilic scored 4 points to give Buducnost the lead to start the second quarter. It was all square at 31-31 with 6 minutes to play in the half. Schwethelm and Hobbs hit from downtown to lift Oldenburg to 33-37. The visitors could not shake Buducnost off and Hassan landed a lovely alley-top to make it 42-43 with time running out in the half. That turned into a 47-49 lead at the break with a lot of basketball left to play. The final play of the half saw Scott Bamforth hit a buzzer-beating triple.

Rickey Paulding scored 5 unanswered to start the second half which gave Oldenburg a 48-56 lead. That turned into a 50-59 lead thanks to Hobbs's 12th point of the night. With 3 minutes to play in the quarter, it was 54-67 as Nathan Boothe brought his tally to 10. The home side needed stops, but Pauling was inspired and he hit another three to bring his tally to 19. At the end of the third, it was 60-71. Buducnost responded in the final 10 and cut it to 62-71 early. The Martin and Cobbs combination was still working and it kept them alive. It was Nikola Ivanovic who reduced the lead to single digits at 67-75. Two free throws by Martins Meiers reduced the deficit again at 72-79 with just under 5 to play. Cobbs popped up against and it was down to 74-79 with the home crowd getting back into the game. Ivanovic buried a three as Oldenburg hung on for dear life. Buducnost grabbed the lead after trailing by 14 after a three from Danilo Nikolic. It was 80-79 and the momentum was firmly in the home side’s favor. Oldenburg recaptured the lead, but Cobbs restored parity with 2 free throws at 82-82 with 45 seconds to go. Paulding was fouled and scored one of his free throws as Cobbs missed the ensuing Buducnost offensive possession and Oldenburg held on.

Player of the game

Rickey Pauling, the Oldenburg veteran who joined the club in 2007, was unstoppable with 21 points. Three of those came from beyond the arch as Oldenburg finished with a 52.9% conversation rate from deep. Pauling was fouled and scored a crucial free throw to give his side a late lead that they never relinquished.

Did you notice?

Hassan White, one of Buducnost’s best players with 16 points through three and a half quarters, twisted his ankle and looked to be in a lot of pain in the fourth quarter. His 16 was his highest tally of the season in the EuroCup despite his injury.

Stat of the game

Buducnost trailed by as many as 14 but would not quit. The hosts outscored their opponents 20-8 on their way back into the lead in the fourth.

Game-changing play

Rickey Paulding scored 21 points on the night. It was his last one that mattered most though as his free throw gave Oldenburg the lead at 82-83. He won the rebound on the following play and that was the key to the game.

Next game

Oldenburg travels to play Asseco Arka Gdynia on Tuesday, November 5. Buducnost welcomes Unicaja Malaga to Montenegro on November 6.