Andy Ellis scored 40 points to lead the visiting Oita HeatDevils to a 92-89 victory over the Sendai 89ers in bj-league action on Sunday.
With the win, Oita (17-13) moved into a tie for third place with the Niigata Albirex BB, swept by the Osaka Evessa in their weekend series.
Mikey Marshall added 21 points and nine assists for the HeatDevils, while Justin Allen scored 11 and grabbed nine boards. Mamadou Diouf finished with 33 points and 24 rebounds for Sendai (15-15).
The last-place Saitama Broncos topped the Takamatsu Five Arrows 79-74 as five players scored in double figures. Ex-NBA player David Benoit's 16 points led the Broncos (10-20).
Reggie Warren had a team-best 22 points for Takamatsu (18-12). Elsewhere, the Toyama Grouses earned a 92-67 win over the Tokyo Apache, who played without John "Helicopter" Humphrey, the 2005-06 bj-league scoring champ who scored 40 points Saturday. Nile Murry and Han Dae Kyun had 21-point efforts for the Grouses. (The Japan Times)