Bayern bests Ludwigsburg in all-German bout for third place

Host U18 FC Bayern Munich captured third place at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Munich with an 82-78 victory over U18 Porsche Ludwigsburg in an all-German battle. Filip Skobalj scored 26 points with 5 rebounds and 4 steals while Siimonas Lukosius had 16 points, including the game-clinching free throws with 3.3 seconds left. Sasha Grant added 11 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists and Michael Rataj and Linus Hoffmann each chipped in 10 points in the victory. Aleksa Kovacevic scored 14 points for Ludwigsburg, which was playing without injured star Ariel Hukporti. Ralph Hounnou added 12 points and Cristian Cotoara contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Lukosius and Skobalj each hit three-pointers as Bayern reeled off 10 straight points for a 10-2 lead. After Bayern pushed the margin to 15-5, Jacob Patrick hit two shots to make it 15-11. Ludwigsburg trailed 21-18 when Adrian Worthy picked up 5 points to help even things. But it was Bayern that led 25-23 after 10 minutes. Skobalj tallied 4 more points in an 8-0 start to the second quarter for a 33-23 lead. Skobalj made a three to make it 38-27. Nico Santana Mojica hit a triple at the other end and Kovacevic scored 4 points to get Ludwigsburg within 44-39. The hosts went into the break leading 47-39. Ludwigsburg got back into the game early in the second half at 52-50 after a 3-11 surge thanks to a Kovacevic three-point play and a Dejan Bruce triple. Skobalj scored the next 5 points and Hoffmann added 4 to give Bayern a 65-60 lead after 30 minutes. A pair of Skobalj baskets extended the Bayern cushion to 69-62 before Tyreese Blunt answered at the other end twice to bring Ludwigsburg within 71-69. Ludwigsburg converted only 4 of 6 free throws in making it 76-75. After Rataj and Hoffmann each buried free throws, Hounnou connected on a triple to cut the deficit to 80-78 with 7.5 seconds to play. But Lukosius iced the game with 2 free throws with 3.3 seconds remaining.