Takamatsu edges Nara to end eight-game slide

The Takamatsu Five Arrows halted their eight-game losing streak on Saturday, earning a 74-71 road victory over the Bambitious Nara.

Anthony Kent and Jarvis Williams each scored 14 points for the Five Arrows (9-24), who trailed 23-10 after the first quarter but turned the tide by outscoring the hosts 27-10 in the second stanza in Kashihara, Nara Prefecture.

Five Arrows shooting guard Kazuki Yamashita added 13 points, including 4-for-4 from 3-point range, and Yusuke Kainuma had 10 points.

Kent grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds.

Julius Ashby paced the Bambitious (13-22) with 18 points. Charles Hinkle and Tatsuya Suzuki both had 12 points. Suzuki handed out 11 assists.

Big Bulls 99, B-Corsairs 72

In Takizawa, Iwate Prefecture, Patrick Sanders’ 25-point effort sparked the hosts in a rout of Yokohama.

Alandise Harris added 19 points for the Big Bulls (18-15) and Abdullahi Kuso had 17 points and 13 rebounds. Hayato Kantake finished with 12 points, while Kaito Ishikawa chipped in with seven points, five assists and four steals.

Jordan Henriquez-Roberts paced the B-Corsairs (16-19) with 16 points and 13 rebounds and Carl Hall added 15 points, while Kenji Yamada scored 13.

Northern Happinets 79, Grouses 63

In Akita, sharpshooter Shigehiro Taguchi sank five 3-pointers in a 17-point effort and Ray Turner added 14 points and 13 boards for the hosts in a convincing victory over East rival Toyama.

Scott Morrison matched Turner’s scoring total and Yuto Otsuka poured in 11 points. Ryosuke Mizumachi dished out seven assists for the Happinets (23-10).

Drew Viney led the Grouses (22-11) with 16 points and 14 boards and Masashi Joho added 15 points.

Toyama misfired on 17 of 20 3-point attempts.

Albirex BB 90, Wat’s 80

In Niigata, big man Faye Pape Mour delivered a 30-point, 10-rebound performance in the series opener as the hosts defeated Aomori, extending their winning streak to six games.

Ryan Reid added 24 points and 17 boards and Wayne Arnold had 20 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in his third game in a Niigata uniform (all wins).

The Albirex (23-12) converted 27 of 42 shots from inside the arc.

Nile Murry led the Wat’s (15-20 with 25 points and Jesse Perry had 18.

Crane Thunders 79, Broncos 63

In Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture, Thomas Kennedy’s 18-point night and Michael St. John’s 17 points helped carry the hosts past Saitama.

Newcomer Gary Hamilton contributed 10 points, 13 boards and six assists for Gunma (15-20) and veteran guard Takamichi Fujiwara scored eight points.

Seth Tarver paced the Broncos (3-30) with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Phoenix 111, HeatDevils 80

In Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, DeAngelo Kirkland scored 26 points in his debut with the defending champions and coach Tomoya Higashino’s team blasted Oita Ehime.

Kejuan Johnson scored 24 points and Reggie Warren had 21 with 10 boards for the Phoenix (23-10). Masahiro Oguchi dished out seven assists.

Yoshihiko Toshino scored 18 points for the HeatDevils (9-24) and Chehales Tapscott added 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Hannaryz 80, Lakestars 64

In Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, with coach Honoo Hamaguchi serving a one-game suspension, the Hannaryz rolled past Shiga.

Shingo Utsumi had 15 points and Kevin Kotzur, Tyren Johnson and Koki Yabuuchi all scored 12. Kotzur led all players with 19 rebounds. Moses Ehambe chipped in with 10 points for Kyoto (26-7).

Julian Mavunga scored 20 points for the Lakestars (22-11) and Yu Okada had 14.

The Kansai rivals were tied at 32-32 entering the second half.

Susanoo Magic 83, Golden Kings 66

In Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, Scootie Randall’s 22-point, 11-rebound effort and Tatsuhiro Yokoo’s strong 3-point shooting were key factors in Shimane’s victory over Ryukyu.

Yokoo canned 5 of 6 from long range in a 19-point outing. Edward Yamamoto added 12 points and Wayne Marshall provided eight points, 10 boards, three assists and three blocks. Josh Davis matched Marshall’s rebounding total. Naoto Takushi had a team-high four assists for the Susanoo Magic (26-9).

For the Golden Kings (23-10), Draelon Burns and Shuhei Kitagawa both scored 17 points, Anthony McHenry had 13 and Evan Ravenel 12.

Brave Warriors 82, 89ers 80

In Sendai, Shinshu outscored the hosts 25-16 in the decisive fourth quarter and earned a victory in the series opener.

Xavier Gibson paced the Brave Warriors with 24 points and Mike Bell had 17 on 8-for-12 shooting with 11 rebounds. Joe Wolfinger added 15 points and Junki Kano scored 13.

Jamal Boykin led the 89ers (25-10) with 25 points and 15 rebounds. Frontcourt mate Wendell White had 19 points and 14 boards with six assists.

Firebonds 89, Cinq Reves 78

In Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, Stephan Van Treese and Le’Bryan Nash combined for 52 points to carry the hosts past lowly Tokyo.

Van Treese topped the scoring chart with 27 points on 10-for-14 shooting and hauled in 13 rebounds. Nash added 25 points and 10 boards.

Atsushi Nogami had 10 points for Fukushima (20-13) and Masaya Karimata finished with seven points, six assists and five steals.

For the Cinq Reves (1-32), Du’Vaughn Maxwell scored 24 points and John Florveus supplied eight points and 16 rebounds.

Samuraiz 114, Lightning 55

In Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa led 38-12 after one period against Hiroshima in a showdown of first-season franchises.

Yusuke Kodera buried 7 of 13 3-pointers in a 27-point outburst for the Samuraiz (19-16) and Andrew Fitzgerald scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Gyno Pomare added 19 points and Marshall Brown had 15.

Kanazawa out-rebounded Hiroshima (1-30) by a 67-35 margin.

Tetsuya Maemura paced the Lightning with 14 points.