Celovec earned an important 87-80 road victory over Deutsch Wagram Alligators in the Austria Basketball Zweite Liga on Saturday, October 24, 2026, surviving a determined second-half comeback to close out a hard-fought contest.

Match overview

The visitors started strongly, moving the ball well against the Alligators’ early man-to-man defence and building a 25-22 lead after the first quarter. Celovec extended the advantage in the second period with a patient half-court offence and went into halftime ahead 47-40.

Deutsch Wagram responded after the break, lifting their defensive intensity and attacking the rim with more purpose. The hosts trimmed the deficit to five by the end of the third quarter and tied the game early in the fourth. Celovec, however, kept their composure down the stretch and pulled away with a decisive late run.

Key moments

The game turned in the final six minutes. With the score tied at 68-68, Celovec produced a 9-0 run sparked by back-to-back steals and a transition three-pointer from Luka Novak. Deutsch Wagram called timeout, but Celovec’s momentum continued as they converted six of their next eight possessions to move ahead 82-72.

The Alligators refused to fold and cut the lead to five with just over a minute remaining, but Celovec knocked down their free throws and secured a crucial defensive rebound to seal the win.

Tactical story

Celovec’s zone defence caused problems for Deutsch Wagram throughout the first half, limiting easy penetration and forcing contested outside shots. The visitors also dominated the offensive glass, collecting 13 offensive rebounds and turning them into 18 second-chance points. On offence, Celovec used their size advantage inside and kicked out efficiently when the defence collapsed.

Deutsch Wagram improved after halftime by speeding up the game and attacking the zone through the high post. Their full-court pressure generated a few turnovers and brought them back into contention, but Celovec’s experience and execution in the final minutes proved decisive.

Standout players

• Luka Novak (Celovec): 22 points, 6 assists and 3 steals, including the game-breaking three-pointer in the fourth quarter.
• Marko Horvat (Celovec): 17 points and 12 rebounds, anchoring the interior on both ends.
• Tobias Gruber (Deutsch Wagram Alligators): 19 points and 7 rebounds, leading the home side’s comeback attempt.
• Felix Berger (Deutsch Wagram Alligators): 14 points and 8 assists, creating most of his team’s best looks.

Season impact

The win keeps Celovec firmly in the upper half of the Austria Basketball Zweite Liga standings and underlines their ability to close out tight road games. Deutsch Wagram Alligators remain competitive but will rue a slow start and a costly scoring drought in the final five minutes. Both teams now turn their attention to the next round, with Celovec looking to build momentum and the Alligators aiming to turn narrow defeats into wins.