Ehime Orange Vikings held off a late surge to defeat Kanazawa Samuraiz 87-82 in B2 League action on Wednesday evening. The Orange Vikings used a decisive third-quarter run to build a cushion and then weathered a furious Kanazawa comeback to secure the home win.

Match Overview

• Final Score: Ehime Orange Vikings 87, Kanazawa Samuraiz 82
• League: B2 League (Japan)
• Date & Time: October 14, 2026, 18:05 JST
• Venue: Ehime Prefectural Sports Park Gymnasium, Ehime, Japan

How the Game Unfolded

The first quarter was a high-scoring affair, with both teams trading baskets. Ehime's guard Kenta Ito was hot early, scoring 11 points in the opening period to give the Orange Vikings a 23-20 lead. The second quarter was tightly contested, with Kanazawa using a balanced attack to briefly take the lead. A late three-pointer by the Samuraiz sent the teams into halftime tied at 42-42.

The third quarter proved decisive. Ehime came out of the locker room with renewed energy, embarking on a 12-2 run to take a 54-44 lead. Kanazawa struggled to contain Ito, who continued to torch them from beyond the arc. The Orange Vikings outscored the Samuraiz 25-18 in the quarter, taking a 67-60 lead into the final period.

The fourth quarter was a nail-biter. Kanazawa refused to go away, cutting the deficit to 78-76 with two minutes remaining. But Ehime's Tyler Harris came up with a huge offensive rebound and put-back, and Ito knocked down two clutch free throws to seal the win. Kanazawa had a chance to tie in the final seconds, but a three-pointer from Yuki Abe rimmed out.

Key Moments

• Third-quarter run: Ehime opened the second half with a 12-2 spurt to seize control.
• Clutch put-back: Tyler Harris's offensive rebound and score gave Ehime an 82-76 lead with 1:30 remaining.
• Defensive stop: Kanazawa's potential game-tying three missed with 5 seconds left, securing the win for Ehime.

Tactical Breakdown

Ehime's offense was fueled by excellent three-point shooting (11-of-24) and aggressive penetration. Kenta Ito was the catalyst, repeatedly breaking down Kanazawa's defense off the dribble. The Orange Vikings also won the rebound battle 38-34, with Tyler Harris dominating the glass. Defensively, Ehime forced 14 turnovers and limited Kanazawa's second-chance opportunities.

Kanazawa kept it close with strong inside play, outscoring Ehime 46-34 in the paint. Yuki Abe was a force, using his size to score over smaller defenders. However, the Samuraiz struggled from the free-throw line, converting just 12-of-19 attempts, which proved costly in a five-point game.

Standout Performers

• Ehime Orange Vikings: Guard Kenta Ito starred with 26 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds. Forward Tyler Harris added 20 points and 11 rebounds, while center Ryota Nakamura contributed 12 points and 7 rebounds.
• Kanazawa Samuraiz: Forward Yuki Abe led the way with 23 points and 7 rebounds. Guard Shun Matsumoto added 18 points and 6 assists, but the team's poor free-throw shooting and late-game execution let them down.

Season Impact

Ehime Orange Vikings improve to 3-2 with the win, while Kanazawa Samuraiz falls to 2-3. The victory is a valuable one for Ehime, who have now won two of their last three. Kanazawa will be frustrated after a competitive effort, but their inability to close out tight games remains a concern. Both teams sit in the middle of the B2 League table, with plenty of basketball still to play.