Former UConn player Gavin Edwards and NBL rookie Makoto Hiejima scored 22 points apiece to help the Aisin SeaHorses advance to the semifinals of the 89th All-Japan Championship with a 96-79 win over the Tsukuba Robots on Saturday.
Edwards, a 207-cm player, had a game-best 16 rebounds and four blocks as well.
The Robots provided a challenge to the SeaHorses, who are currently tied for the best record in the NBL (24-2), early on. But the powerhouse squad eventually prevailed and outperformed Tsukuba.