Galway's JML Titans pulled a real New Year's cracker in Dublin, overcoming Basketball Ireland's National League division one table-toppers Kubs.
It was a result that upset the entire league, leaving local rivals Maree on top, following their own win against Kestrels, and a humbled Kubs level with Killorglin in second spot.
The 78 - 87h win was a strong turnaround for the Titans that had suffered a substantial defeat to the Kubs at the beginning of the season in Galway.
Looking to establish momentum for the second half of the season, Titans were keen to build on their home win against Blue Demons. They started well, nailing everything in an opening quarter that was owned by Wayne Redmond, who hit three threes.
Titans ended the first with a 30-20 point lead, and, with increasing confidence, continued in the second against a Kubs side struggling to come to terms with the spread and diversity of the attack from an improving Galway side.
Eoin Coughlan nailed two threes, Dale Creaven followed with a pair of his own, while Emmanuel Razza Saah weaved his way to the hole to cause panic in the Dublin squad.
While Eoin Chubb kept the Kubs in touch, Titans James Barry won some big rebounds, and Kelvin Atu and Corey Starkey worked well in offence to maintain a 52-38 lead at the half-time break.
The third quarter picked up a gear with the American for Kubs finding his range, and Eoin Chubb nailing everything. As their inside men blocked the smaller, lighter Titans, they began to narrow the gap. Despite a full court press, Coughlan, however, maintained his resolve to get the ball into the league's highest scorer, Corey Starkey, who amassed a 39 points and 29 rebounds on the night, while Dale Creaven and ran the floor and finished strong to the basket.
In the fourth quarter Titans led by 13 points at one stage, but then lost their point guard Eoin Coughlan to five fouls after nailing an important two pointer from the free throw line with some seven minutes left on the clock.
On three occasions Kubs brought it back to two points, but with the defence of Kelvin Atu and Emmanuel Saah keeping tabs on The Kubs' American, and Creaven, Redmond and Starkey mopping up the boards, the Titans held their nerve to hit the free throws and take an important victory on the road.
JML Titans: Corey Starkey 39, Dale Creaven 16; Emmanuel Saah 11, Wayne Redmond 13, Eoin Coughlan 8pts, James Barry, Kelvin Atu.
