Sparta Bertrange edged Arantia Larochette 80-73 on the road in a balanced opener. After a 24-22 first quarter for Sparta, Arantia reacted in Q2 to lead 38-37 at halftime, helped by four straight free throws from Kevon Lamar Godwin (25, 1.88m, USA) after a technical on Max Logelin (22, 1.87m). The third turned on a Colin Braun (23, 1.93m) triple and a Jarvis Terrill Williams (35, 1.98m, USA) burst to 58-54, with Sparta up 59-56 heading to the fourth.
Braun then drilled back-to-back threes early in Q4 and Williams added a two for a 0-6 start; the gap stretched to the night's biggest at 59-68. An unsportsmanlike on Gregory Lydell Mays (32, 2.05m, USA) briefly reopened the door, as Tyrell Daniel Sturdivant (30, 2.04m, USA) hit three free throws in a row and Arantia closed to 69-71, then 72-73 on a Godwin three. Sparta, however, finished at the line: Williams scored 6 of their last 7 points to secure it.
Imports ruled the game: Williams had 29 points (11/13 FT, 7 reb), Mays added 17, 8 boards and 4 blocks (2P 71.4% excellent). For Arantia, Godwin poured in 28 (FT 76.9% good), while Edson Rafael De Sousa Silva (18, 1.88m, PRT) supplied 13 with an excellent 60% from three. Among the locals, Braun's 9 points all from deep were timely; Logelin added 10 and 6 boards. Foul trouble weighed late: Sturdivant and Jonas Levickas (26, 1.98m, LTU) fouled out for Arantia; Yannick Verbeelen and captain Victor Stein exited for Sparta. Coach Abou Khalil's side shot 75% at the line; Arantia's 25% from three hurt. Attendance: 150 (105 paying). Sparta start 1-0 and sit 5th; Arantia 0-1, 8th.
(AI generated)