Mason's 20-14 Double-Double Lifts Pyrintö to 95-89 Win at Korihait

Tampereen Pyrintö opened the men's Korisliiga season on Wednesday with a 95–89 win over last season's bronze medallists Uudenkaupungin Korihait in Uusikaupunki, Aamulehti reports.

Pyrintö, which had lost two pre-season friendlies and two Finnish Cup games in September, went into the game as underdogs. They grabbed the lead in the first quarter and held on despite a late Korihait surge. Captain Joona Hakamaa said the decisive factor was maintaining intensity for most of the match and bouncing back quickly from brief "dark" spells that had plagued their pre-season.

Jordan Mason led Pyrintö with a 20-point, 14-assist double-double, while Shawn Hopkins, Jamal West Jr., Erik Muhonen and Hakamaa each scored 14. Duane Posey, a recent signing, was with the team but did not suit up. For Korihait, Garry Clark and Devin Tillis scored 21 points each; former Pyrintö player Kion Williams added 10.

Uudenkaupungin coach Pieti Poikola made his Korihait debut; Poikola previously led Pyrintö to Finnish titles in 2010, 2011 and 2014. Pyrintö returns to action Saturday at Pyynikki against reigning champion Salon Vilpas.