The Saitama Broncos earned a two-game split with the host Sendai 89ers, picking up a 90-81 win on Monday. Gordon James, the Broncos' All-Star power forward, scored a game-high 28 points and pulled down 18 rebounds. James Davis scored 14 points, Kazuhiro Shoji had 11 along with seven rebounds and six assists and Andrew Feeley scored 12 for Saitama (6-8), while Aaron Sekai Lawrence handed out seven assists. For the 89ers (10-4), Nick DeWitz had a team-best 26 points, Bobby St. Preux contributed 19 and Patrick Whearty had 15. In the bj-league's other Christmas Eve contest, the Rizing Fukuoka improved to .500 with a 78-69 win over the visiting Toyama Grouses. Joshua Peppers (29 points and 12 rebounds), Jeffrey Price (14 points and 12 boards), Michael Gardener (11 points) and Tsuyoshi Kawazura (11 points, seven rebounds and six assists) paced Fukuoka (7-7). Robby Joyner led the Grouses (1-15) with 21 points, while Masayuki Kabaya had 20 and Uka Agbai had 11.
