Lawrence, Klimavicius lead Bonn past Oldenburg

In an all-German showdown in Group A, Telekom Baskets Bonn registered its first win in the 2015-16 Eurocup by downing EWE Baskets Oldenburg 88-77 at home on Wednesday. Eugene Lawrence led the winners with 17 points. Tadas Klimavicius added 16 while Jimmy McKinney had 12 for Bonn. Vaughn Duggins led Oldenburg with 21 points. Brian QVale added 16, Chris Kramer had 14 while Nemanja Aleksandrov got 11 for the guests. Bonn had a strong start but a 0-10 run which Duggins capped with a triple gave Oldenburg a 15-18 edge. Bonn tied it at 20-20 after 10 minutes and managed to get a 43-38 margin at halftime. Lawrence and Klimavicius allowed the hosts to keep a 66-63 edge after 30 minutes and an 8-0 run which Andrej Mangold capped with a three-pointer sealed the outcome, 77-67, with over 3 minutes left.

Florian Koch got Bonn going with a jumper and Isiah Philmore soon gave the hosts a 4-2 lead. Duggins and Rickey Paulding stepped up for Oldenburg but Philmore scored again and Dirk Madrich struck from downtown for an 11-6 Bonn edge. Lawrence took over with consecutive baskets but a 0-10 run which Duggins capped with a three-pointer made Oldenburg get the lead, 15-18. Klimavicius followed a triple with another basket to make Bonn tie the game, 20-20, after 10 minutes. QVale and Dominic Lockhart put the guests back ahead, 23-24, early in the second quarter. Klimavicius kept pacing Bonn, however, and free throws by Madrich ignited an 8-0 run which Lawrence capped with a jumper for a 37-29 lead. Aleksandrov stepped up with a second-chance basket and got help from Duggins and QVale to bring Oldenburg closer, 43-38, at halftime.

QVale took over after the break with consecutive baskets which Aleksandrov followed with a triple for a 48-45 Oldenburg deficit. Aaron White and Lockhart traded baskets and Lawrence soon gave Bonn a bit of fresh air at 54-47. Kramer stepped up with back-to-back three-pointers and Robin Smeulders soon kept the guests as close as 58-55. Duggins scored again and a put-back basket by Kramer completed Oldenburg's comeback, 58-59. Klimavicius made free throws and Philmore added an off-balance layup. Klimavicius made Bonn restore a 66-63 edge after 30 minutes. QVale and Duggins got Oldenburg within 69-67 with 7 minutes left. Bonn improved its defense, however, as Lawrence and Mangold hit a triple each in an 8-0 run which sealed the outcome, 77-67. Oldenburg went scoreless for more than 4 minutes until Duggins shined with a driving layup but Jimmy McKinney answered from downtown, allowing all Bonn fans to start celebrating an important home win.