Etzella Ettelbruck controlled Basket Esch 84-67 to move out of the 1/8 finales. The visitors set the tone late in the first quarter with a 13-0 run that flipped an 11-8 deficit into an 11-21 lead, closing the period at 24-16. Esch answered in the second, trimming the gap to 40-35 at halftime, despite a coach technical on Gavin Love. Early in the third, Damien Thill's three brought Esch within 38-40, but Etzella delivered the game's decisive blow: a 14-0 burst to 38-54, and the lead peaked at +20 (51-71) at the start of the fourth. A late player technical on Nicholas Thomas Davis did not alter the outcome.
Etzella's shooting was solid: 62.5% from two and 41.4% from three (both good). Billy Ray McDaniel Jr (41, 1.96m, USA) was ultra-efficient with 21 points on 3/3 inside and an excellent 5/6 from beyond the arc. Adrian Jermaine Delph (25, 1.95m, USA) earned the game MVP with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals, plus a block in 40 minutes. Davis added a double-double (18 points, 12 rebounds) and drew 10 fouls. Among the locals, Philippe Gutenkauf hit two threes for 8 points, and Eric Zenners chipped in 6.
Esch struggled to keep pace offensively: 50.0% from two, 28.6% from three and 62.5% at the line. Jordan Hicks led with 21 points, including an excellent 4/7 from three. Quinten Nelson had 12 points, 6 steals and 4 assists, while Corentin Cornu added 9. Among homegrown players, captain Clancy Rugg posted 9 points (3/4 FT) and Dino Ceman scored 8.
The visitors' edge came on the glass (40-26; 33 defensive rebounds) and accuracy from distance (12/29 threes). Esch, coached by Franck Meriguet, did win the turnover (11 vs. 18) and steals (12 vs. 6) battles, but Etzella's third-quarter surge and superior shooting decided the tie.
(AI generated)