Nagasaki saw off Shinshu 74 to 71 in the B League on Wednesday, keeping their place at the summit of the table. The hosts had won their previous 13 home games before this one, and they needed every bit of that experience to see it out. We had given a home win at 72 per cent confidence, and it came through, though not without Shinshu making them work for it.
There were no easy periods here. Shinshu came in having won three of their last five, including a 89 to 84 victory over Yokohama B-Corssars, so they weren't looking for a quiet night. Nagasaki had dropped six of their last seven overall, so the pressure was on to respond. The game stayed within reach for both sides, and that is where the result was decided — in the final minutes when composure mattered more than anything else.
By then the score was tight enough to make you hold your breath. Shinshu had shown they could score in bunches, hitting 99 against Toyama Grazes earlier in September, but Nagasaki's defence held the line. The hosts led by a point or two at various stages, and when Shinshu pushed, Nagasaki answered. It wasn't a game decided by one moment but by a series of small ones — and here's the thing, the ones that counted were the defensive stops in the closing quarter.
The statistics tell you what you already know. Nagasaki shot 47 per cent from the field and Shinshu 44, but the difference was in the free throws — 18 made from 22 attempts for the hosts. Rebounds were even at 42 apiece, which tells you neither side dominated the glass. The game had 31 total turnovers, and you can see how that kept it close.
What it means is simple. Nagasaki extend their lead at the top to five points, with 149 points from 61 games. Shinshu remain in fourth, six points behind third-placed Kyoto Hannaris after their own loss earlier in the week. This wasn't a statement win, but it was the kind of result that builds momentum — and the old head settled them down when it mattered most.
