RASTA Vechta survived a high-octane Basketball Champions League battle on September 16, 2026, defeating Turkish side Merkezefendi 101-98 in a game that came down to the final possession. The German club improved its position in the group standings with a win that showcased both its offensive firepower and its ability to execute under pressure.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, both teams played at a breakneck pace. Vechta jumped out to an early 26-24 lead after the first quarter, but Merkezefendi responded with a 28-point second period to take a 52-51 advantage into halftime. The visitors' sharpshooting from beyond the arc kept them in front, but Vechta's defense tightened after the break.

The third quarter proved decisive. Vechta outscored Merkezefendi 27-22 in the period, turning a one-point halftime deficit into a four-point lead heading into the final frame. The home side's ball movement and transition attack created easy baskets, while Merkezefendi struggled to find the same rhythm against Vechta's adjusted pick-and-roll coverage.

The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with Merkezefendi twice cutting the lead to a single possession. But Vechta knocked down free throws down the stretch and forced a crucial turnover in the final 20 seconds to seal the win.

Quarter-by-Quarter Scoring

• First Quarter: RASTA Vechta 26, Merkezefendi 24
• Second Quarter: RASTA Vechta 25, Merkezefendi 28
• Third Quarter: RASTA Vechta 27, Merkezefendi 22
• Fourth Quarter: RASTA Vechta 23, Merkezefendi 24
• Final: RASTA Vechta 101, Merkezefendi 98

Key Moments

The game's turning point came midway through the third quarter. With Merkezefendi leading 58-55, Vechta went on a 12-2 run over a three-minute span, capped by a transition dunk from forward Malik Parsons. That surge gave the home team a lead they would never fully relinquish.

In the final minute, Merkezefendi had a chance to tie. Trailing 99-98, the visitors ran a pick-and-pop for their leading scorer, but Vechta's Jayvon Graves anticipated the pass and came up with a steal. Graves then hit two free throws at the other end to push the lead to three, and Merkezefendi's last-second three-point attempt rimmed out.

Tactical Story

Vechta's game plan centered on pushing the tempo and attacking Merkezefendi's big men in space. The German side scored 18 fast-break points and shot 52% from two-point range. Defensively, Vechta switched to a zone look in the third quarter, which disrupted Merkezefendi's rhythm and forced six turnovers in the period.

Merkezefendi, meanwhile, relied heavily on three-point shooting. The Turkish club connected on 14 of 34 attempts from beyond the arc (41.2%), but they managed only 10 free-throw attempts compared to Vechta's 22. That disparity in aggression proved costly in a three-point game.

Standout Players

• Jayvon Graves (RASTA Vechta): 28 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals. The guard was the best player on the floor, scoring 12 of his points in the fourth quarter.
• Malik Parsons (RASTA Vechta): 20 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks. Provided energy and a highlight-reel dunk in the third-quarter run.
• Tommy Kuhse (RASTA Vechta): 17 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds. Controlled the pace and hit timely shots.
• Berkay Candan (Merkezefendi): 25 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists. Kept the visitors in the game with five three-pointers.
• Efe Aydan (Merkezefendi): 18 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists. A tough matchup inside and out.

What It Means for the Standings

With the win, RASTA Vechta improves its position in the Basketball Champions League group phase and boosts its chances of advancing to the next round. The victory also reinforces the German club's strong home record in European competition, where its up-tempo style has proven difficult for opponents to contain.

Merkezefendi, meanwhile, drops a closely contested road game and faces added pressure in its upcoming fixtures. The Turkish side showed it can compete with top European teams, but closing out tight games remains a work in progress. Its three-point shooting kept it alive, yet the free-throw disparity and late turnover were the difference.

Vechta will look to build on this performance as it continues its BCL campaign, while Merkezefendi returns home hoping to bounce back. For the fans in Vechta, this was another memorable European night and a reminder of the club's growing stature on the continental stage.