Racing Luxembourg edged Basket Esch 89-85 in the M-ENOVOS League qualification round at tramsschap/central. Adam Radomirovic's team built the game early: after Esch briefly led 32-33, Racing answered with a 12-0 surge in Q2, driven by Emanuel Loncaric (10, 1.96m, HRV) who poured 10 points in that stretch, pushing the gap to a game-high +13 (57-44 at half).
Franck Meriguet's men clawed back after the break. Clancy Mac Rugg (25, 2.03m) kept scoring inside and from the line (9 twos, 7 free throws) while Quinten Nelson (29, 1.85m, USA) caught fire from deep with 6 made threes. Esch flipped it to 77-78 early in Q4. At 80-80, Racing found a last push: Antunio Xavier Bivins (20, 1.99m, USA) hit a free throw, Steve Lanners (11, 1.90m) added two, and Brendan Adam Temple (28, 2.06m, USA) scored at the rim for 85-80. Nelson answered from three (85-83), but late free throws from Lanners and Max Hilger (17, 1.85m) closed it out.
Racing's local core: Hilger's steady closing and Lanners' timely buckets. Their other leaders: Temple's dominance inside (11 twos, 6 FTs) and Bivins' two-way presence; Loncaric's second-quarter burst was pivotal. Esch's local standouts: Rugg's 25 and minutes from Dino Ceman (4, 1.98m). Their other threats: Nelson's perimeter barrage and Jordan Hicks (11, 2.01m, USA). Physical tone marked the night, with Racing absorbing two unsportsmanlike fouls (Q2, Q3).
In the new table, Racing sits 2nd, Esch 3rd.
(AI generated)