Nile Murry provided the heroics in crunch time.

The veteran guard nailed a buzzer-beating jumper from the top of the key to shatter a late tie, and the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix outlasted the defending champion Ryukyu Golden Kings 71-69 in overtime in Game 1 of their bj-league Western Conference semifinal series on Saturday in Okinawa City.

Murry didn't have the best game of his pro career, but he made the biggest shot of the afternoon for the third-seeded Phoenix. He finished with 12 points on 4-for-17 shooting.

After the game, Phoenix fans posted celebratory comments on Facebook about Murry's game-ending theatrics.

"Nile is (a) super cool PG. He made buzzer-beater," one loyal Hamamatsu fan wrote.

Olu Ashaolu paced Hamamatsu with 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, while Jermaine Green scored 13 points. Tasuku Namizato had nine points and Atsuya Ota chipped in with seven for the Phoenix.

Hamamatsu out-rebounded Ryukyu 57-49.

The Phoenix held the hosts to 10-for-27 shooting from 3-point range and 15-for-47 from inside the arc.

Draelon Burns paced the Golden Kings with 15 points and Narito Namizato and Ryuichi Kishimoto scored 11 apiece. Anthony McHenry had six points on 3-for-18 shooting with 13 rebounds and six assists.

In a tight contest, Hamamatsu led 35-34 after one quarter and 52-50 at halftime.

Ryukyu center Kibwe Trim fouled out after 17 minutes, 45 seconds of court time. He had seven points and three boards.

(4) Lakestars 80, (1) Hannaryz 74

In Kyoto, Shiga took a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter and held on for a series-opening victory over the Hannaryz

Lakestars forward Jeff Parmer delivered a splendid 25-point game, converting 11 of 12 shots from the floor, and hauled in eight rebounds. Terrance Woodbury had 19 and seven rebounds, while Yo Okada contributed 18 points and five assists. Yutaka Yokoe had a seven-point effort.

Ryan Forehan-Kelly had 20 points and three blocks for the Hannaryz and David Palmer poured in 12 points. Reggie Warren contributed 11 points and 13 boards, with Shun Watanuki and Shingo Usumi each scoring eight points in the loss.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(4) Albirex BB 79, (1) Northern Happinets (74)

In Akita, Thomas Kennedy and Kimitake Sato scored 16 points apiece as Niigata pulled within one victory of booking a spot in the Final Four, which will be held May 23-24 at Ariake Colosseum.

Kennedy added 14 rebounds to complete the double-double. Frontcourt mate Stephan Van Treese finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks and Russell Carter had a 10-point outing.

The Albirex outscored Akita 24-14 in the pivotal fourth quarter.

The Happinets were plagued by poor free-throw shooting (7-for-16).

Richard Roby paced Akita with 18 points. He added eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Ruben Boykin had 14 points and Shigehiro Taguchi scored 13 and Deshawn Stephens finished with 10. Ryosuke Mizumachi supplied nine points and five assists, while University of Missouri alum Travon Bryant blocked six shots.

(2) Big Bulls 97, (No. 6) Wat's 87 (OT)

In Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, Scootie Randall had a game-high 34 points to lead the hosts to an overtime triumph over Aomori.

The Big Bulls outscored the visitors 14-4 in the 5-minute bonus period.

Randall's strong all-around game included 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. Lawrence Blackledge and Wayne Arnold both scored 19 points for the Big Bulls and Hayato Kantake added eight.

Iwate led 42-35 at halftime and 64-58 after three quarters.

Wat's big man Gyno Pomare had 22 points, 14 rebounds and a team-high four assists. Kyle Richardson poured in 16 points and Kenichi Takahashi scored 13. Yuki Kitamuki canned four 3s for his 12-point output and Gordon Klaiber and Paul Williams each scored 11 points.

Aomori won the battle on the boards (60-48), but was whistled for 28 fouls and Williams and Richardson both fouled out.