Late rally overcomes sluggish start

Munich, October 24 - Jonathan Wallace scored 8 of his game-high 19 points in the 4th quarter including the go-ahead 3-pointer as Bayern defeated BV Chemnitz 63-60.  Beckham Wyrick added 16 points and 7 rebounds to bring FCB's record to 5-0.

Despite the win, the Bayern camp were not happy as the team struggled out of the gate, allowing the 99ers to outhustle and outshoot the home squad, forcing turnovers and missing shots.  "Tonight was our worst showing of the season," stated Bayern coach Dirk Bauermann.  "It's a win, but a win that did not live up to our standards or expectations."

The game went down the final shot as Chemnitz's Gary Johnson got an open look at the buzzer but his three-point attempt did not fall.  Johnson's 18 points and Achmadschah Zazai's 14 points led the 99ers as they built an early 8 point lead in the 2nd quarter.

"When a team comes into our house, plays harder and hungrier than us, that cannot happen," Bauermann said.  Wallace agreed with his coach.  "From the beginning, their focus was to be physical to knock us off our game, which they did."

But Wyrick turned things around, scoring 10 points including a 3-pointer and 3-point-play to help tie the game at 32.  But Zazai scored right before the end of the half to put Chemnitz back on top at the half 34-32.

Chemnitz regained their 8-point advantage by the middle of the 3rd quarter after Johnson hit one from way behind the arc, making it 49-41.  But that's when Wallace took over and led Bayern on a 19-5 run between the 3rd and 4th quarters that proved to be the deciding moments of the game.

During the early moments of the 4th quarter, Darius Hall came up with the big hustle plays - a block, took a charge, changed shots - as he and Wyrick came up with big rebounds to complement Wallace's scoring and keep Chemnitz down.  "All three of us are experience players and that's what we have to do to help the team win," explained Wallace.  "I prefer we would do it earlier."

"Coach let me have it at halftime and I was going to in at the end to make a difference in the game," Hall added.

But it still wasn't over until the final possession.  "I was hoping it didn't go in, who knows what would have happened in OT with their momentum," admitted Wyrick. "And we are fortunate that it didn't go in."

FCB travel to Würzburg to take on the s.Oliver baskets who just lost their first game, a tough road game in overtime.  With first place on the line, both teams will be ready.  "Würzburg will be hungry, whether they are coming off a win or loss, it's a tough road match and they will match us in intensity," predicts Bauermann.  "I am convinced that we will see a different FCB team than we saw tonight.  It will help us how we won today."

Both the players and the coach confirmed that there is no day off and practice will continue throughout the week as they look to overcome injuries, sickness and the addition of new players.

"It was a lesson learned (tonight), we needed it," said Hall.  "We will be practicing more, harder and smarter."

Bayern return home Saturday, November 6th to take on ETB Wohnbau Baskets.  Tip-off is at 19:30.