| 08 September 2012 EUROBASKET QUALIFIERS  | | Robin Benzing sparked the German comeback in the last quarter to seal the seventh win in as many games |
Germany scored the final five points to keep Sweden sweating on their EuroBasket place with a 91-86 win in Norrkoping. Sweden led most of the way to endanger Germany's unbeaten record in Group B, and they were up 79-71 with 6:24 to go after a lay-up from Christian Maraker. Robin Benzing then sparked the German fightback, completing a three-point play from the free-throw line, and then adding a three-pointer to make it 79-77. Maik Zirbes tied it from the line and Benzing put Germany 81-79 up. Kenny Grant snatched the lead back with a three-pointer and the teams traded blows, with Thomas Massamba's lay-up tying it 86-86 with 35 seconds left. But Germany then made their decisive break, with Heiko Schaffartzik nailing a three-pointer and then, after Jonas Jerebko missed a three for Sweden, Benzing finished the job from the line. Germany improve to 7-0, but Sweden still need to beat Luxembourg on Tuesday and hope Germany can do them a favour against Azerbaijan. Schaffartzik led Germany with 21 points while Benzing added 19. Tibor Pleiß and Jan-Hendrik Jagla added 16 apiece. Jerebko poured in 32 and grabbed 10 rebounds for Sweden, with Grant adding 21 and Maraker 14. |