Levanga Hokkaido fell 78-77 to the SeaHorses Mikawa on Sunday, September 27, 2026, in a B1 League thriller decided on the final possessions. Mikawa escaped Hokkaido with a one-point road win after a tense fourth quarter in which neither team led by more than four points, capping a game that lived up to the billing of a top-flight Japanese basketball contest.

Match Overview

The two sides traded blows from the opening tip, with the lead changing hands repeatedly. Hokkaido's home crowd helped fuel a strong second quarter that erased an early deficit, and the game was level at 39-39 at halftime. Neither team could pull away after the break, and the contest came down to execution in the final two minutes — where Mikawa's composure at the free-throw line proved decisive.

• Final score: Levanga Hokkaido 77, SeaHorses Mikawa 78
• Quarter scores: 18-22, 21-17, 19-20, 19-19
• Halftime: 39-39
• Competition: B1 League, 2026-27 season
• Venue: Hokkaido, Japan

First Half: A Tight, Tactical Battle

Mikawa started the brighter of the two teams, moving the ball crisply and finding Zach Novak in the post for early points. The SeaHorses led 22-18 after the first quarter, taking advantage of some rushed Hokkaido possessions and a pair of live-ball turnovers.

Levanga responded well in the second period. Yuta Matsumura began attacking the lane with purpose, and Kai Sasaki's shooting from the wing stretched Mikawa's defense. Hokkaido outscored the visitors 21-17 in the quarter to level the score at 39-39 at the break, with the momentum clearly shifting toward the home side.

Key Moments and the Final Possession

The third quarter was a grind. Both teams tightened up defensively, and scoring came in short bursts rather than sustained runs. Kenta Miyazaki kept Mikawa in front with a pair of timely three-pointers, while D'Angelo Ferrell answered for Hokkaido with strong work on the offensive glass. Mikawa carried a slender 59-58 lead into the final period.

The fourth quarter delivered everything expected of a B1 League matchup. The lead changed hands seven times, with neither defense willing to give ground. Isaiah Boone's dunk gave Hokkaido a one-point edge with just over a minute to play, but Mikawa answered immediately through a patient half-court set that ended with free throws. Trailing 78-77 in the final seconds, Levanga got a clean look from beyond the arc, but the attempt rimmed out, and the SeaHorses secured the rebound to run out the clock.

Tactical Story: Pace, Spacing and Half-Court Execution

Mikawa's approach was built on controlling tempo. The SeaHorses slowed the game in the half court, using Novak as a pivot in the post and generating open looks for their shooters through deliberate ball movement. That discipline paid off in the closing minutes, when they avoided turnovers and forced Hokkaido to defend deep into the shot clock.

Levanga, by contrast, wanted to run. Hokkaido's best stretches came when they pushed the ball in transition and attacked before Mikawa's defense could set. Their guards were aggressive off the dribble, and the team generated a healthy number of second-chance points through Ferrell's activity on the boards. In the end, though, the half-court execution gap — particularly at the free-throw line — proved decisive in a game separated by a single point.

Standout Performers

• Zach Novak (Mikawa): Anchored the offense in the post and drew consistent double teams.
• Kenta Miyazaki (Mikawa): Hit big shots in the third quarter and managed the game calmly down the stretch.
• Ren Takahashi (Mikawa): Reliable on both ends, contributing key defensive stops late.
• Yuta Matsumura (Hokkaido): Aggressive and effective attacking the rim, keeping Levanga in the fight.
• D'Angelo Ferrell (Hokkaido): A force on the offensive glass, creating extra possessions throughout.

What the Result Means

It is a painful loss for Levanga Hokkaido, who did enough to win for long stretches and will feel they left a result behind at home. The positives are clear — the team's transition attack, rebounding energy and improved second-quarter defense — but the margin between winning and losing in the B1 League is often a single late possession, and that is exactly where this game slipped away.

For SeaHorses Mikawa, a road win by the narrowest possible margin is exactly the kind of result that builds confidence early in the season. Winning away from home in a hostile environment, and doing so with composed late-game execution, is a hallmark of teams that finish near the top of the standings. Both clubs will now regroup and look ahead, with