The Takamatsu Five Arrows shot a sizzling 57.9 percent from 3-point range and Dexter Lyons flirted with a triple-double in a 102-86 victory over the Rizing Fukuoka on Friday night.
Justin Watts paced the Five Arrows (17-34) with 23 points, including 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, while Lyons, a University of Central Florida product, had 22 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and two steals in the bj-league series opener in Fukuoka.
Lyons knocked down 5 of 7 3s, leading his team in both categories.
In the frontcourt, Takamatsu's B.J. Puckett (16 points, six rebounds, three blocks) and Andrais Thornton (15 points, six boards, three assists, two steals) had productive games.
Koki Yabuuchi added 14 points for the visitors, who led 34-18 after the opening quarter.
Fukuoka's Josh Peppers had a team-high 18 points with eight rebounds and five assists. John "Helicopter" Humphrey finished with 14 points, Minoru Kimura and Kirk Van Slyke scored 12 apiece and nine-time All-Star Cohey Aoki chipped in with 11, his iconic jersey number.
The Rizing (12-39) have lost seven straight games.
Both teams wrap up their regular season in Saturday's series finale.
Takamatsu has secured a spot in the playoffs for the first time since the 2008-09 season.