Gunma Crane Thunders Edge Altiri Chiba 76-74 in B1 League Thriller

Gunma Crane Thunders held off Altiri Chiba 76-74 in a tense B1 League matchup on September 24, 2026, at Open House Arena Ota. The win moved Gunma above .500 in the early-season standings and handed Altiri Chiba a narrow road defeat in a game that featured 12 lead changes and neither team leading by more than seven points.

In front of an energetic home crowd of 4,812, Gunma made just enough plays down the stretch to secure the two-point victory. The game was tied 74-74 with under a minute remaining before a decisive baseline drive and a final defensive stop sealed the result for the Crane Thunders.

Match Overview

The contest tipped off at 18:05 local time and quickly developed into a grind-it-out battle. Gunma started with pace, taking a 20-18 lead after the first quarter, but Altiri Chiba responded with a 22-point second period to take a 40-38 advantage into halftime. The visitors used a 10-2 run late in the half to flip the momentum.

• First quarter: Gunma 20, Altiri Chiba 18
• Second quarter: Altiri Chiba 22, Gunma 18
• Third quarter: Gunma 19, Altiri Chiba 16
• Fourth quarter: Gunma 19, Altiri Chiba 18

Gunma regained control in the third quarter with an 11-2 run that pushed the lead to 52-46. Altiri answered immediately, tying the game at 54-54 before the Crane Thunders took a 57-56 edge into the final period. From there, every possession felt like a playoff sequence, with both teams trading baskets and defensive stops.

Key Moments

The final minute provided the drama. With 48 seconds left, Altiri Chiba’s Ren Takeda hit a step-back three-pointer to tie the game at 74-74, silencing the home crowd. Gunma called timeout and drew up a play for Kaito Miyamoto, who drove baseline and finished through contact with 6.8 seconds remaining to put the Crane Thunders ahead 76-74.

• Game-winning basket: Kaito Miyamoto’s baseline drive with 6.8 seconds left.
• Final defensive stand: Gunma forced Altiri into a contested three-pointer that rimmed out as time expired.
• Momentum swing: Gunma’s 11-2 third-quarter run turned a four-point deficit into a six-point lead.
• Altiri’s response: Takeda’s late three tied the game and capped a 20-point performance.

Altiri had one last chance to force overtime, but Gunma’s switching defense denied a clean look. The rebound was secured, and the Crane Thunders ran out the clock.

Tactical Story

Gunma’s defense was the difference. The Crane Thunders used a switch-heavy scheme to disrupt Altiri’s pick-and-roll attack, forcing 15 turnovers and limiting the visitors to 9-of-31 shooting from beyond the arc. Gunma also won the rebounding battle 42-36 and turned 12 offensive boards into 14 second-chance points.

Altiri Chiba stayed in the game through Takeda’s shot-making and Marcus Bell’s interior scoring, but the offense stalled in the final three minutes. Gunma went small in the fourth quarter, sliding Darius Cole to center and using quick rotations to close out on Altiri’s shooters. The adjustment paid off as Altiri managed just one field goal in the final 2:40.

On offense, Gunma attacked the middle of Altiri’s zone and generated high-percentage looks near the rim. The Crane Thunders shot 44% from the field and committed only 11 turnovers, a season-low that kept them in control of the game’s tempo.

Standout Players

• Kaito Miyamoto (Gunma Crane Thunders): 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and the game-winning basket. He shot 7-of-13 from the field and consistently broke down Altiri’s defense in the fourth quarter.
• Darius Cole (Gunma Crane Thunders): 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Cole anchored the paint and came up with several crucial defensive stops in the final period.
• Ren Takeda (Altiri Chiba): 20 points, 6 assists, and 4 three-pointers. Takeda kept Altiri within striking distance and hit the shot that tied the game at 74-74.
• Marcus Bell (Altiri Chiba): 14 points and 9 rebounds. Bell was efficient inside but was limited to just four shot attempts in the fourth quarter.

Gunma’s bench also provided a spark, outscoring Altiri’s reserves 22-14. That depth proved critical in a game decided by a single possession.

B1 League Table and Season Impact

With the win, Gunma Crane Thunders improved to 3-1 on the young B1 League season, while Altiri Chiba dropped to 2-2. The result lifts Gunma into the upper half of the early standings and gives the club valuable momentum before a difficult road stretch.

In the B1 L