The B.League’s All-Star break did no wonders for Niigata as it absorbed a 64-76 loss to Shinshu, Saturday at City Hall Plaza Ao-re Nagaoka.
This is Albirex BB’s 24th straight loss, falling to a league-worst 2-25 slate, while the Brave Warriors snapped their two-game slide to go up to 11-16.
Niigata never recovered from a horrid first quarter that saw them put up just seven points on the board, shooting just 3-of-17 from the field.
Still without Yuta Okada, the Brave Warriors relied on Reo Maeda in this one, dropping 12 of his 25 points in the final frame. He helped Shinshu build a lead that went to as high as 17 points.
Besides Maeda, Wayne Marshall got 17 points and seven rebounds while Ko Kumagai added 13 points.
Matt Aquino was not fielded in the contest.
On the other end, Aquino’s fellow second generation cager Kobe Paras was held scoreless for the third time this season. The 6-foot-6 winger went just 0-of-5 from the field in 21 minutes of play while also getting three steals, two rebounds, and an assist.
Jeff Ayres led Niigata with 23 points and 12 rebounds while Rosco Allen added 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Keigo Kimura and Yuto Nohmi chipped in 12 points and 10 rebounds, respectively, from off-the-bench duties.
The two teams face off again tomorrow.
