InBL Pro U25: Chennai Heat overpower Mumbai Titans with 86-69 win

New Delhi [India], February 21 (ANI): The Chennai Heat displayed their strength, overpowering the Mumbai Titans with an emphatic 86-69 triumph at the Thyagraj Indoor Stadium in the InBL Pro U25 league on Friday.

Tad Dufelmeier stole the spotlight, leading the scoreboard with an impressive 23 points and 9 rebounds to take revenge for their previous 70-85 defeat to the Titans. Meanwhile, Malak Majak and Jack Stanwix contributed significantly, combining for 30 points to fuel Chennai’s offensive charge.

The Titans started strong, jumping to a 6-0 lead as Elijah Puna and Gurwinder Singh capitalized on early opportunities. The Heat initially struggled to find momentum, missing their first few shots until Stanwix finally broke the ice. Just as they began to settle, foul trouble halted their progress, allowing Lokendra Singh and Aaron Verghese Blessen to exploit gaps in the defense and extend the Titans’ lead.

Then came the game-changing moment. With Jaideep Rathore, Dufelmeier, and Majak hitting consecutive three-pointers, the Heat blazed through with a 14-0 run to seize the lead. Majak stayed hot, nailing another deep three to open the second quarter, but Gurwinder Singh quickly countered in an exciting exchange of baskets.

As the Titans tried to push the tempo, the Heat tightened up defensively, forcing turnovers and converting fast breaks with ease through Sejin Mathew and Stanwix. By halftime, the Heat had established a dominant 14-point lead.

The battle intensified in the third quarter. Liam Judd knocked down a corner three for the Titans, but the Heat held firm with key defensive stops and Dufelmeier’s crucial buckets to retain their advantage.

Durrell McDonald attempted to fuel a comeback with a three-pointer, cutting the deficit to eight, but the Heat stood their ground. They controlled the boards, grabbed rebounds, and forced turnovers to maintain a 10-point lead heading into the final quarter.

Majak and Dufelmeier sealed the deal in the fourth, sinking decisive three-pointers to stretch the lead. The Titans kept battling, attacking inside through Puna and Panopio, but their shooting struggles persisted. Even when Puna and Panopio managed to score from beyond the arc, Jaideep Rathore delivered the final blow, drilling a three-pointer to put the Heat up by 16 with just over a minute remaining.

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