Gabe McCray’s heroics at the buzzer salvaged a 73-73 draw for Surrey Scorchers to take into the second leg against Leicester Riders.
The hosts had led 59-52 in the fourth before the league champions rallied and looked set to come away with the win, only for McCray to strike late.
Tayo Ogedengbe top scored with a game-high 22 points for the eighth seeds with Quincy Taylor adding 11 points and six assists.
As for the Riders, Brandon Clark had 21 points with Taylor King handing out five assists to go with his 13 points.
A low-scoring opening period saw the Riders edge ahead by a single point before Surrey hit back to take a one-point lead of their own into the half.
The lead doubled following another competitive period before a 7-0 run put the Scorchers in control, but the Riders responded with an 11-2 run to set up an exciting finish.
Clark split a pair of free throws to give Leicester a 70-73 advantage in the final seconds before McCray got his off-balance three to fall at the buzzer with the tie evenly poised heading into Sunday’s second leg at the Leicester Arena.
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THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THE BALL DROPS ON THE BUZZER AND WE TAKE A TIED GAME TO LEICESTER!!! FINAL SCORE 73-73!!! #TheBBL pic.twitter.com/j0IcGGumUc
— Surrey Scorchers (@surreyscorchers) April 28, 2017
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