Caledonia Gladiators defeat German basketball giants in stunning comeback

The men’s side won 73-71 in a closely-fought contest, currently sitting second in the Basketball Bundesliga, despite being 19 points down shortly after half time.

The victory was the third win in a row for the men’s team in all competitions and leaves them in third place in Group H of the FIBA Europe Cup.

Head coach Gareth Murray said: “That was an incredible comeback from our players, and they deserve huge credit for the skill and fighting spirit they showed on the night.

“To win against a club like MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg, who will have a significantly larger budget than most British basketball sides, is a massive achievement.

“These European nights have been really special over the last year or so, and we’re now just looking to build on these results in our coming fixtures.”

The result comes as the club’s women’s team, who have enjoyed a strong start to the season too, narrowly lost 82-78 to Swiss team BCF Elfic Fribourg.

Tony McDaid, the club’s chief executive, said: “Gareth and the team deserve huge credit for our FIBA Europe Cup win.

“It was such an intense match, and the support of our fans on the night was incredible, and helped drive the players on.

“There’s a lot to be positive about in our men’s and women’s teams, and we’re really proud of how both are competing on the European stage.”