Matt Garrison worked countless hours to hone his shooting skills throughout his career as a professional basketball player, and he expects the same of his Niigata Albirex BB players.

Now in his second year at the helm, Garrison, a former Niigata standout, has pushed his charges to become dependable scorers and unselfish teammates, sharing the ball and creating scoring opportunities for the entire club.

Garrison's approach is working for Niigata, which routed the Gunma Crane Thunders 93-56 on Saturday in their bj-league series opener.