Phoenix Hagen secured a landmark 88-73 victory over Basketball Löwen Braunschweig on October 25, 2026, marking the club’s first home win in the easyCredit BBL since May 1, 2016. In front of a sold-out Ischelandhalle crowd of 3,145, Hagen used a dominant rebounding performance and a 17-0 second-quarter run to break their decade-long drought.
Fantasy & Market Impact
- Tyler Polley solidified his status as an efficient scoring option, providing value with 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting in limited minutes.
- Cameron Krutwig remains a key player for interior production, as his 13-rebound performance helped anchor the team’s rebounding effort.
Tactical Dominance at the Glass
The defining statistic of the fixture was the disparity in rebounding. Hagen controlled the interior with 49 total rebounds compared to Braunschweig’s 31. Most critically, the hosts secured 22 offensive rebounds, effectively negating their own mediocre shooting performance (9-of-32 from three-point range). By consistently earning second-chance opportunities, Hagen maintained offensive pressure even when their primary sets stalled.
Cameron Krutwig, serving as the focal point of the Hagen interior, acknowledged that his individual shooting was not at its peak. “My shots didn’t fall today, I missed a few easy ones,” Krutwig noted post-game. “So I tried to help the game in every other way. They went hard to the boards, and I was the biggest man out there, so I just grabbed rebounds.”
Hagen Uses 17-0 Run to Overcome Early Deficit
The game’s momentum shifted violently in the second quarter. After trailing 18-25, Hagen held the visitors scoreless for over seven minutes. This 17-0 run, which bridged the first and second quarters, saw Hagen transition from a deficit to a 35-25 lead. Braunschweig head coach Ramon Diaz was blunt in his halftime assessment: “I think we defended poorly. We were not focused. We completely lost our concentration in our defense.”
Braunschweig managed a brief resurgence in the third quarter, fueled by Tajh Green’s athleticism and a flurry of points from Gian Aydinoglu, eventually knotting the score at 59-59. However, the Löwen’s inability to maintain defensive discipline, coupled with consistent foul trouble, prevented a full comeback. The visitors recorded 19 fouls to Hagen’s 16, a disparity that allowed the hosts to dictate the pace in the final period.
| Metric | Phoenix Garden | Lions Braunschweig |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 88 | 73 |
| Total Rebounds | 49 | 31 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 22 | 12 |
| Turnovers | 17 | 13 |
Gibson and Polite Help Hagen Secure Third Straight Win
In the closing four minutes, Hagen demonstrated the composure that has been absent for years. Trenton Gibson, who led the celebration after the final whistle, decided the game in the final minutes, converting a steal into a three-point play to extend the lead to 79-69. The performance of Anthony Polite, playing his first home game after an 888-day injury hiatus, provided the emotional spark the home crowd craved.
For Hagen, this marks their third victory in a row, including a win in Oldenburg and a surprise cup victory in Ulm. While the club remains 15th in the standings with a 1-4 record, the trend suggests a significant upward trajectory. Conversely, Braunschweig remains on a 3-1 record, facing immediate pressure to rebound after a difficult week that included a cup defeat to Chemnitz.
Hagen Faces RASTA Vechta After First Home Victory
The schedule offers little respite for either side. Hagen will attempt to carry this momentum into their October 30 matchup against league-bottom dwellers RASTA Vechta at the Ischelandhalle. Braunschweig is set to return to their home court on October 31 to face the Fitness First Würzburg Baskets.
As Bjarne Kraushaar noted after the game, the victory is a milestone, yet the team remains self-critical regarding their execution. “It’s just madness. It’s something very special to celebrate the first home win with the fans. Everyone who participated more than deserved it,” Kraushaar stated, while acknowledging that the team still has significant tactical adjustments to make before their next fixture. The win serves as a psychological breakthrough for a franchise that had not tasted home success in the top flight for over ten years.
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