The fight to stay in the Pro A continues to thicken as the EPG Guardians Koblenz are right in the middle of it battling Duesseldorf and the Artland Dragons for that last spot in the Pro A. Despite a coaching change recently, the EPG Guardians Koblenz weren´t able to get that first victory as they lost a brutal game in Nurnberg by only 3 points. The fight to stay in the pro A didn´t get any easier as they had to face top team Jena who they had been crushed by more than 50 points earlier this season. The only good news was that now they could try their luck in their own living room. Jena is an incredible team coached by the eccentric Bjoern Harmsen and has a deep roster that lead the Pro A in rebounding and assists and only allowed 73 points per game. Jena is a team that could defeat numerous easyCredit BBL teams. On a cool late winter night, the 1-9 Guardians in 2025 wanted to achieve the spectacular upset over #1 team Science City Jena, but they came close staying with them for three quarters, but in the fourth quarter, they couldn´t handle the C&C duo of Carter and Cooks who combined for 15 of the 22 fourth quarter points to help their team win their 15th game in a row. “I feel like Koblenz scored too much in the 1st and third quarters. You have to give them credit that they really wanted to win. They were a different team from the first game. Even when they made their run, I´m very proud how we always stuck together. Even if we committed a lot of fouls, we gave our bodies to defense and wore them down in the fourth quarter. We proved that we are still the number #1 team”, stressed Science City Jena guard Chris Carter. The EPG Guardians Koblenz showed for a second consecutive game under new head coach Venelin Berov that they can play more free on offense and play good zone defense. Against top team Jena, they couldn´t get over the hump in the fourth quarter and control their penetration. “This game was a great challenge for us. We knew that we would have to play against their pressure. I´m really proud of how we stuck together. There is a reason why they are the #1 team. A big shout out to Stevens, Cockfield and Bohm for great games”. Warned EPG Guardians Koblenz forward William Lee.

Ben Stevens at the FT line

Science City Jena came out strong in the first quarter taking the rapid 6-0 lead as Carter and Christian made free throws and the latter then made an off balance shot. The guests were applying immense defensive pressure and Koblenz couldn´t handle the pressure. However Jena relaxed too soon becoming to sure of themselves as the EPG Guardians Koblenz smacked them with a brutal 19-4 run in their faces to take the commanding 19-10 lead. In the run Koblenz played refreshing inside out basketball as American Ty Cockfield led the charge with 6 points using his lethal mid range game to give Jena fits while American Ben Stevens was aggressive and took on responsibility for the absent big Moses Poelking with 4 points. Ex BBL player Leon Friderici added a trey and ultimate team player Dominique Johnson added 4 points. Jena lost concentration on offense and couldn´t hold their physicality which Koblenz took advantage of. Down the stretch, the EPG Guardians Koblenz continued to execute very well and continued to keep team first as many heads contributed. Friderici dropped another trey and Czech republic player David Bohm added 5 points. Science City Jena attacked the rim well getting baskets from American Zach Cooks, ex Vechta guard Chris Carter and ex Hagen forward Alex Herrera. At the end of one quarter, the EPG Guardians Koblenz had the surprising 29-19 advantage and had a few Guardian fans somewhat miffed at what had just occurred. “Jena lost concentration in our run. Their on ball defense wasn´t good, they couldn´t match our physicality and they couldn´t come terms with our zone”, said EPG Guardians Koblenz sport director Thomas Klein.

Ty Cockfield to the rim

Science City Jena stepped up their game in the second quarter exploding for 31 points, but couldn´t make any damage because the EPG Guardians Koblenz were able to execute just enough to only trail 50-48 at half-time. Science City Jena came out of the gates with a swift 9-0 run to trail Koblenz only at 29-28. The guests played their aggressive style of the first few minutes of the first quarter and totally stifled the Guardians offense that could get any rhythm going. In the run, the guests got good production from ex ratiopharm Ulm forward Raymar Morgan with 4 points while Herrera made another uncontested lay up and Carter snuck inside to grab the offensive rebound and put back. The EPG Guardians Koblenz got their groove and kept the lead as TY Cockfield took over making 4 points as did Stevens who made a great alley oop dunk off the perfect feed from French Player Alexandre Bouzidi while Friderici made another trey as Jena trailed 40-35. However Jena then stepped up their defense getting some stops which led to a 6-0 run as young German guard Raphael Falkenthal added 4 points and German Lorenz Bank dropped a trey for the 41-40 advantage. The game then went back and forth for the last few minutes as teams punched back and forth for 7 lead changes. Koblenz had no answer for Robin Christen (202-SF-1991) who was a menace adding 6 points as his inside out game sparkled while the Guardians got lay in´s from Cockfield and Bohm to trail 50-48 at the break. “We didn´t play the first few minutes of the second quarter like the first quarter and didn´t have that winning mentality. We didn´t play zone anymore. Jena got too many extra possessions off offensive rebounds and we couldn´t match their physicality anymore”, commented Thomas Klein.

Chris Carter from outside

In the third quarter both teams had a sloppy start and nobody could gain any real ground as no team led by more than 3 points. Stevens gave Koblenz good energy with a floater and being aggressive getting 3 free throws while Friderici made a lay in for the 55-52 Guardians advantage. The Guardians upped their defensive pressure and physicality better forcing Jena to tough shots and more misses. Koblenz remained strong keeping the slim lead and still executing well on offense as David Bohm was extra aggressive on this night not hesitating at all, but just scoring as he added 5 points for the 60-57 lead. However Jena had a very deep bench and got support from all as ex Frankfurt Skyliners Rasheed Moore went on his own 5-0 run with a trey and lay in as Koblenz trailed 62-60. However Bohm didn´t let up and usually had an answer as he added 5 more points and grabbed the lead back at 65-62. Jena would tie the game 2 more times with Carter and Christin baskets only to see the Guardians steal the lead back with buckets from Cockfield and Johnson. However Robin Christen had the last laugh in the third quarter as he dropped a trey for the 70-69 Jena advantage. Koblenz was playing horrible 1-1 defense on Christen as he was open one too many times on the evening. “We missed free throws and lay ups much more than normal. It was like a boxing match with many lead changes. We were the last man standing after that quarter”, stated Chris Carter. “Christin got it going. He saw a couple go in and then you feel like you can hit from anywhere. We showed that we would give up and lay down on our court. We fought and competed at a high level”, warned William Lee.

Zach Cooks at the FT line

In the fourth quarter Science City Jena showed a lot of heart and why they are the number #1 team in the Pro A by buckling down on defense and allowing only 11 points and let the C&C duo take care of business on the offensive end. Jena came out strong punching going on a 6-2 run to lead 76-71 getting a trey from Christen and a lay in from Cooks. Cockfield and Johnson found their spots scoring twice to keep the Guardians behind only at 78-75, but Science City Jena didn´t play around anymore closing the door on Koblenz with a lethal 14-5 run to end the game. In the run, it was the potent C&C guard duo of Carter and Cooks that added 10 of the 14 points in the run. Carter showed his vast experience finding his spots and just being smart and composed, while Cooks quickness totally hurt the Guardians. “I feel like I could play my game. I controlled the game and got to the free throw line”, warned Chris Carter. In the end, it was the C&C guard duo that combined for 15 of the fourth quarter 22 points of Jena. “It took a little while for Cooks to wake up, but he is the fastest guard in the league. I feel like they were a bit gased and we were in better shape. Our decision making was really good in the fourth quarter”, expressed Chris Carter. Koblenz kept fighting, but couldn´t contain Jena on the offensive glass and stop the penetration. “Their guards got in the paint way too many times. We never gave up, but just couldn´t get over the hump”, said William Lee. Science City Jena was led by Robin Christen with 24 points while Chris Carter added 17 points and Zach Cooks 15 points while the EPG Guardians Koblenz were led by David Bohm with 23 points while Ty Cockfield added 21 points and 8 dimes. Science City Jena shot 525 from the field and 35% from outside and had 34 rebounds and 11 turnovers while the EPG Guardians Koblenz shot 44Y% from the field and 32% from outside and had 34 rebounds and 11 turnovers.