Six minutes in front, 94-93 winners: Chemnitz outlast Hagen after overtime

34 minutes and 37 seconds. That is how long Phoenix Hagen spent in front at Messe Chemnitz. BV Chemnitz 99 led for 6:15 all night — and it was enough, because after overtime the scoreboard read 94-93 for the hosts.

Hagen wrote the first script: 24-19 at halftime, then a surge nobody matched — 19 points in a row, and a lead that stretched to 15, the biggest of the game. Chemnitz's best answer was a 10-point burst, and the hosts spent the second half chipping away. The lead changed hands 11 times to Chemnitz and 10 times to Hagen, the game flipping possession by possession until regulation ran out level.

The finish belonged to the boards. Chemnitz won the glass 42-35, and the 15-11 edge in offensive rebounds kept second-chance possessions alive that Hagen never saw. Hagen actually passed better, 18 assists to 15, and turnovers were dead even at 15-15, steals 6-6, blocks 2-0 to the visitors. None of it outweighed the extra chances.

Stefan Smith carried the hosts: 23 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists across 38 minutes and 16 seconds, the game's leading scorer on 47 percent shooting. Cobe Williams added 16 points on 75 percent from the field, and Nighael Ceaser muscled in 10 points with 9 rebounds. Hagen's Trenton Gibson scored 17, Tyler Polley hit 14 on 75 percent, and Bjarne Kraushaar handed out 8 assists beside his 13 points — craft that deserved a better rebounding night.

Hagen owned the clock for all but six minutes. Chemnitz owned the moment. Basketball keeps its sharpest arithmetic for nights like this.