BAMBERG (Bundesliga) - Little-used veteran Rick Stafford scored seven points in the final 38 seconds to help defending champions GHP Bamberg steal an 83-79 overtime victory over RheinEnergie Koln in Game One of their semi-final play-off series.
Stafford, who came into the play-offs averaging just 1.4 points during the regular season, scored nine of his 10 points in the overtime session after Bamberg overcame a four-point deficit in the final 30 seconds of regulation.
The EuroCup quarter-finalists led 65-61 but Bamberg captain Derrick Phelps completed a three-point play with 29 seconds remaining.
Koln playmaker Michael Jordan made just one-of-two free throws with 3.4 seconds in regulation and Spencer Nelson forced the extra period with a buzzer beater.
In the extra five minutes, Stafford drained a three-pointer with 37 seconds left to give Bamberg a 78-72 lead.
But Jordan answered with a three-pointer of his own just seconds later.
Guido Gruenheid made just one-of-two free throws with 15.2 seconds left, leaving Koln down 79-76.
Stafford then hit two pairs of free throws in the final 15 seconds - sandwiched around Titus Ivory's three free throws with 7.5 seconds remaining.
Despite being happy just to have made the semi-finals, the loss on the road is bitter for Koln coach Sasa Obradovic, whose team lost to BC Kyiv in the EuroCup quarters over three games.
"We missed a good chance today," said Obradovic, who led Koln to a first-round sweep of Ludwigsburg.
"But Bamberg is simply more experienced through the Euroleague and its experienced roster, and they used their advantages excellently.
"It was the small things that decided the game - rebounds, free throws and turnovers. Bamberg were just better in those areas in the final stages. Thursday we want to even the series."
Bamberg's Germany coach Dirk Bauermann knows his team escaped with a fortunate win.
"That was the game which everybody expected," Bauermann said. "There were two teams facing each other with an extremely high level of defence.
"It was a victory for determination because we wanted to win at home no matter what. The team showed the pride of a champion."
Bauermann will be able to call on the services of suspended German international point guard Steffen Hamann for Game Two in Koln on Thursday.
Phelps and Chris Ensminger paced Bamberg with 18 points while Koln guard Glen McGowan led all scorers with 20 points.
Koln once again struggled from the free-throw line, hitting just 61.3%, while also being out-rebounded 38-29.
In the other semi-final series, regular season champions Alba Berlin showed they are a class apart to surprise promoted side Eisbaeren Bremerhaven with a convincing 91-68 home victory in Game One.
Berlin's Demond Greene led the scoring with 23 points, the Germany guard hitting all four of his three-pointers as Alba knocked down 55% of their treys (12-22) while holding Bremerhaven to 38% shooting for the game.
"It was important that we played our tempo," said Alba Coach Henrik Roedl said. "That allowed us to pull away.
"But we've only won the first game and we have to keep our focus and concentration high."
Darren Fenn had 17 points and 10 rebounds for Bremerhaven but Nick Jacobsen and Brian Jones combined for just nine points on 3-19 shooting.
Game Two is on Thursday in Bremerhaven.
David Hein
PA Sport, exclusively for FIBA.com