Musel Pikes edged Racing Luxembourg 91-85 in a tight M-Enovos League qualification game, decided in the final minute. Racing started sharper, racing to 5-14 (largest RAC lead, +9) on early threes by Steve Lanners (28, 1.90m) and Antunio Bivins (33, 1.99m, USA), and led 23-28 after Q1. Coach Brian Walker Carroll's side flipped the momentum in Q2 with a 14-4 burst from 28-31 to 42-35, despite an unsportsmanlike U2 on Gilles Kerschen (31, 1.95m). Halftime: 44-39.
Sam Streef (21, 1.90m) then caught fire in Q3, drilling three triples in a short stretch to push the gap to 62-49 (MUS largest lead, +13). Racing stayed in touch through Lanners and Max Hilger (30, 1.85m). In Q4, coach Adam Radomirovic's team strung together a 16-2 run from 76-66 to 78-82, capped by a Hilger three. Musel answered with a 13-3 close: Maurice Gordon (25, 2.01m, USA) hit a key three (81-82), Esosa Kelvin Okundaye (32, 1.86m, DEU) scored back-to-back baskets to restore the lead and added two late free throws, and Tom Welter (31, 1.84m) sealed it at 91-85. Game-winners in the close finish: Okundaye and Welter.
Team numbers underline Musel's edge inside and in ball movement: 58% on 2s and 36% on 3s (both good), a 47-34 rebounding advantage and 29 assists, plus 8 blocks. Free throws were an issue (5/12, 42%). Racing struggled at 2P (44%) and 3P (33%), and shot 54% at the line.
Top performers
- Domestic (MUS): Streef 23 pts (6/13 3P, good); Welter 11 pts (4/5 2P, excellent).
- Foreign (MUS): Gordon 19 pts, 9 reb, 4 ast, 3/5 3P (excellent); Tristin Walley (29, 2.01m, USA) 12 pts, 11 reb, 7 ast, 4 stl, 3 blk.
- Domestic (RAC): Lanners 17 pts (5 threes, 41.7% 3P, good); Hilger 13 pts.
- Foreign (RAC): Bivins 31 pts, 13 reb, 5 stl (double-double, game-high scorer); Brendan Temple (24, 2.06m, USA) 13 pts, 10 reb.
Form note: Musel bounce back after a loss; Racing slide to three consecutive defeats.
(AI generated)