Riding a 33-point burst by Bryan Davis, Kinmen Kaoliang baffled Bank of Taiwan 86-78 at the Sinjhuang Sports Complex in New Taipei City last night to win their fourth game in their past five outings.
The US power forward had a big day against the Bankers interior defense, converting 50 percent of his shots from the field, most of which were from close range due to his outstanding post-up play.
Even though he allowed 22 points on the defensive front to his counterpart James Tyler, returning in a Bankers uniform following a two-week break in which he was replaced by a departed Rod Benson, Davis has undoubtedly been the driving force behind the Distillers’ recent success.
The Bankers did not start the game well, shooting a dismal one-for-11 from the floor to find themselves trailing Kinmen Kaoliang 9-3 in the first five minutes of play.
A pair of three’s by Kao Chien-yi in a 24-point second quarter for the Financial Wizards kept the Distillers’ lead to only three at halftime in a 40-37 affair.
An electrifying third quarter for Davis, during which he connected for six field goals and three free throws in a 15-point effort, gave Kinmen a double-digit advantage heading into the fourth.
Three’s by Kao and Liu Wei-chen in the fourth sparked a solid comeback attempt that brought the Bankers to as close as two with two minutes remaining.
However, that was as close as they got, as Yang Che-yi calmly nailed a three to put Kinmen Kaoliang ahead by five as they held off the Bankers to win by eight.
Two players scored in double-digits for Kinmen, compared with a trio for the Bankers, led by Tyler and Kao’s 22 points apiece. Tyler also grabbed 21 rebounds to finish with a double-20 outing.
Braves 64, Taiwan Beer 59
The second-ranked Fubon Braves defeated Taiwan Beer in the late game in New Taipei City to give them their league-best 13th win of the season.
Su Yi-chieh’s tiebreaking free throws with less than a minute to play was the difference as the Braves held off the Brew Crew after squandering a 13-point lead in the fourth to escape with a narrow win.
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