Black Frogs Schieren escaped Mersch with a 75-73 win over Black Star in the M-Loterie Nationale Cup 1-16 finals, a game that swung late after long Mersch control.
Black Star started fast. Trailing 2-9, they strung together a 13-0 run to 15-9 and closed the first quarter 23-19 before taking a 39-33 lead to halftime. Midway through the third they were still in command, peaking at +12 (57-45). Schieren then flipped the momentum with an 11-1 burst to end the quarter at 59-58.
The last period delivered several lead changes. Eric Christopher Anderson (26, 2.00m, USA) opened with a three for 59-61, but Desean Hampton (BSM) answered with four straight and Kurt Matthew James II (BSM) added a triple for 66-61. Schieren stayed close through Anderson and Borian Tymi (19, 2.00m), and after two free throws by Alexandre Pereira Meireles (23, 1.96m) made it 70-69, Gabriel Solomon (23, 1.83m) put the Frogs ahead 70-71. Khyree Terell Armstead (25, 1.96m, USA) pushed it to 70-73, Felix Urwald (20, 1.80m) tied it with a late three (73-73), and Pereira Meireles delivered the game-winning basket for 73-75.
Top performers: Armstead poured in 27, repeatedly attacking and adding a key third-quarter three. Anderson scored 23 and hit the early fourth-quarter go-ahead triple. Tymi added 9, including a timely three, while Pereira Meireles' 4 points included the decisive shot. For Black Star, James II (BSM) led with 22, Hampton (BSM) had 20, Kevin Sarlette (28, 1.86m) hit two threes for 10, and Romain Dieterlen (BSM) added 10. Urwald (1.80m) had 7 and the clutch equalizer.
Rainer Kloss's team controlled large stretches but could not blunt Nigel Tolentino's third-quarter response and late execution. James II and Urwald finished on four fouls yet stayed involved down the stretch. With this two-point win, Black Frogs move on to the next round of the cup.
(AI generated)