Point guard Michael Gardener returned to the lineup after a two-game absence due to an ankle injury, and the Akita Northern Happinets held off the visiting Ryukyu Golden Kings 78-75 Saturday in a showdown of teams that began the day in first place in their respective conferences.
Ricky Woods paced the Happinets (11-4, tops in the Eastern Conference) with 21 points and 11 rebounds and newcomer Curtis Terry, younger brother of Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Terry, had 18 points in his fifth game for Akita.
Stanley Ocitti and Gardener each scored 10 points in the series-opening win in Mitane, Akita, Prefecture.