Raiffeisen Flyers Wels edged UBSC Raiffeisen Graz 82-77 in a tightly contested Austrian Basketball Superliga matchup on October 24, 2026, using a late fourth-quarter surge to secure an important home victory. Wels led for much of the night but had to hold off a resilient Graz side that repeatedly cut into the deficit and threatened to steal the game in the final minutes.

Match overview

The contest featured several momentum swings and a playoff-like intensity. Wels started strongly behind aggressive perimeter defense, while Graz responded with inside scoring and timely three-point shooting. Neither team led by more than nine points until the closing stretch, and the final two minutes produced the kind of possession-by-possession drama that makes the Austrian Basketball Superliga so competitive.

• First quarter: Wels 20-18 Graz
• Second quarter: Wels 21-19 Graz
• Third quarter: Wels 18-22 Graz
• Fourth quarter: Wels 23-18 Graz
• Final score: Raiffeisen Flyers Wels 82, UBSC Raiffeisen Graz 77

Key moments

Graz took a one-point lead early in the fourth quarter after a 7-0 run, forcing Wels to call timeout. The break worked. Wels returned with a tighter defensive lineup, forced two turnovers in quick succession, and answered with an 8-0 burst that shifted the momentum back in their favor. The decisive sequence came with just over a minute remaining, when Wels converted a tough contested layup and then secured a defensive rebound to deny Graz a second-chance opportunity.

Free-throw execution proved crucial down the stretch. Wels made the most of their trips to the line in the final 30 seconds, while Graz was left chasing the game and forced into rushed attempts from beyond the arc. The final margin of five points reflected the closeness of the contest, even if Wels deserved credit for making the bigger plays when it mattered most.

Tactical story

Wels’ advantage came from their ability to attack the paint and kick out to open shooters. When Graz collapsed defensively, Wels found cutters along the baseline and created high-percentage looks. Graz, meanwhile, relied heavily on isolation plays and pick-and-roll actions, which worked in spurts but became predictable in the closing minutes. Wels’ switching defense also disrupted Graz’s rhythm, limiting clean looks from the top of the key.

Standout performers

• Jalen McCall (Wels): 24 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds
• Stefan Riedl (Wels): 17 points, 10 rebounds
• Milan Kovacevic (Graz): 21 points, 8 rebounds
• David Horvath (Graz): 15 points, 5 assists

McCall was the catalyst for Wels, scoring from all three levels and controlling the tempo in the fourth quarter. Riedl’s double-double gave Wels a crucial interior presence, particularly on the offensive glass. Kovacevic kept Graz in the game with strong post play and mid-range shooting, but his effort was not enough to overcome Wels’ late execution.

Season impact and head-to-head context

The win gives Wels a valuable head-to-head advantage and adds momentum to their league campaign. In a competition where home results often shape the playoff race, protecting home court against direct rivals is essential. Graz leave with a narrow defeat but can take encouragement from their resilience; they will need to convert close games into wins if they are to climb the standings. Wels, meanwhile, will view this as a statement that they can close out tight contests against quality opposition.