Lamar Rice scored a game-high 20 points and frontcourt mate Joji Takeuchi added 18 as the Hitachi Sunrockers edged the Aisin Sea Horses 65-62 in Game 2 of the Japan Basketball League finals on Saturday at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
Joji Takeuchi pulled down 13 rebounds to lead all players. His twin brother, Aisin forward Kosuke Takeuchi, the 2008-09 JBL MVP, was held to six points and six rebounds after a 16-point, seven-rebound, three-assist performance in Game 1 on Friday, when the Sea Horses beat the Sunrockers 68-64.
Joji Takeuchi also had a fine game in the series opener, putting 13 points on the board and grabbing 15 boards.
Game 3 in the best-of-five series will be played on Sunday.
Guard Yuichi Kan knocked down 2 of 4 3-pointers and finished with 14 points in Hitachi's series-tying win.
For the Sea Horses, the defending champions, Daryan Selvy led the way wit 18 points, while J.R. Sakuragi had 15.