Former Bradley point guard Daniel Ruffin, who helped direct the Braves to three consecutive seasons with at least 21 wins during his final three years, has gotten off to a hot start during his rookie season for TeckPro Braves Kaiserslautern in Germany's ProA division. In his pro debut Friday, Ruffin pumped in 17 points and added five rebounds and five assists in an 88-80 victory against BG Karlsruhe. He topped that individual effort with 20 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals Sunday, but in a 78-70 loss to Mittledeutscher BC Weissenfels.
In his first two professional games, Ruffin has made 10-of-17 (.588) shots from behind the international 3-point line. Ruffin's squad will return to action Sunday by hosting FC Schalke 04 in third-round play in the German ProA division.
Elsewhere in Germany, Will Franklin scored a game-high 16 points, leading New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig to its first win of the season, a 56-49 triumph against BG 74 Goettingen Saturday in third-round action in the German Bundesliga. Jeremy Crouch was scoreless in 24 minutes off the bench, but grabbed four rebounds for the New Yorker Phantoms.
In addition, James Gillingham scored eight points off the bench in TBB Trier's 85-67 romp against Paderborn Baskets Saturday. Both teams will be on the road in the fourth round of the Bundesliga schedule Saturday: New Yorker Phantoms at ENBW Ludwigsburg and TBB Trier at Giants Noerdlingen.
In Baltic League Challenge Cup action, J.J. Tauai's Lithuanian squad, Techasas improved to 2-0 Saturday with a 73-50 victory against Tallinna Kalev, although game details are scarce. Techasas will play a third-round game in the Challenge Cup Oct. 15.
In the French ProA league, former Bradley star Marcellus Sommerville opened his third pro season with a 15-point effort, helping his new team, Chorale de Roanne Basket, race to a 101-76 win against Cholet Basket. Sommerville's squad will play a second-round game Saturday at Entente Orleans 45.
And jumping to Spain, second-year pro Zach Andrews contributed 13 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots in Rayet Guadalajara's 96-80 win against Real Madrid II in opening round action of the LEB Bronze division. His squad will return to action Sunday.
In the LEB Silver division, Eddie Cage has averaged 7.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in the season's first three games for HNV Consmetal Navarra (2-1), which will play a fourth round game Friday.
Back in the States, Anthony Parker posted 12 points, three assists and three steals while helping the Toronto Raptors to a 104-84 victory against Cleveland in NBA preseason action Tuesday night. Patrick O'Bryant is expected to debut for the Boston Celtics Wednesday when the defending world champions open their exhibition schedule against Philadelphia at UMass.
