Dwight Ramos and Toyama faltered late against Gunma, losing 90-95 in the 2021-22 B.League season, Sunday at Toyama City Gymnasium.
Unlike their 89-77 win just yesterday, it was a nip-and-tuck affair between the Grouses and the Crane Thunders this time around.
Naoki Uto gave Toyama a 90-89 lead with 37 seconds left but Trey Jones was able to answer right back on the secondary break on the other end.
A miss from downtown by Julian Mavunga led to free throws for Jones which extended the Crane Thunders’ lead to three with seven seconds remaining.
Off a timeout, Ramos missed on a game-tying trey. Jones sealed the game with two more free throws.
Ramos went just 2-of-9 from the field for Toyama, who dropped to 8-15 in the West.
Jones led the way for the now-11-12 Gunma with 26 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds while Aki Chambers added 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field with five rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Kyle Barone got 16 points and eight rebounds; Michael Parker tallied 12 points and eight rebounds; while Kei Igarashi chipped in 11 points as Gunma’s starters did all the damage in the contest.
Mavunga and Joshua Smith were the one-two punch of Toyama with the former finishing with 21 points while the latter got 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Kevin Hareyama had 15 points — all from downtown — while Bryce Johnson had 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Toyama will next face Chiba on Wednesday at Funabashi Arena.
