The Sendai 89ers edged the visiting Toyama Grouses 88-84 in overtime on Saturday. In doing so, the 89ers recorded their first home win since before the Great East Japan Earthquake.
The 89ers, playing only their third home game of the 2011-12 bj-league season, recorded their third straight win, improved to 6-3 overall and moved into second place in the Eastern Conference standings.
It was a hard-earned win. Johnny Dukes sank two free throws with 23 seconds left in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 78-78 and send it into overtime.