Basket Esch controlled AB Contern 84-62 under FIBA rules, building the win early and closing strong. Coach Franck Meriguet's team exploded for a 31-13 first quarter, fueled by Jordan Hicks (Season PPG: 13.33, RPG: 5.50, AssPG: 1.67), who buried three triples in the opening frame. An 11-0 burst late in Q1 highlighted by three free throws in a row from Quinten Nelson (Season PPG: 21.83, RPG: 7.00, AssPG: 3.17) and three straight from Clancy Rugg (Season PPG: 17.33, RPG: 8.00, AssPG: 1.00) broke the game open.
Contern responded under coach Gabor Boros in Q3 (22-15), briefly riding an unsportsmanlike foul (U2) on Corentin Cornu to start the half: Mathieu Arendt (Season PPG: 9.50, RPG: 2.86, AssPG: 2.43) sank both free throws and Joshua Ferguson (Season PPG: 16.83, RPG: 12.57, AssPG: 2.29) scored inside to trim it to 46-34. The visitors got as close as 57-50 after a Christopher Paul Barton Jr. (29, USA) three, but Esch steadied.
The hosts finished with a decisive 23-10 fourth quarter, sealing it with a 9-0 run from 68-60 to 77-60 (Nelson 5 points, Hicks 2, Cornu 2). Largest lead was the final margin (+22).
Esch's shooting was solid across the board: 83% at the line, 57% on twos, 36% from three (all good. Hicks was clinical with excellent 2P and 3P (5/7 each) for 25 points. Nelson added 18 (5/5 FT, excellent) and Rugg delivered a double-double (14 points, 13 rebounds; 6/6 FT, excellent). Dino Ceman contributed 10 and Cornu 6.
Contern struggled to convert (31% 2P, 20% 3P; 67% FT). Barton Jr. led with 23, while Ferguson posted a strong double-double (18 points, 15 rebounds, 4 steals, 4 assists). Arendt added 12.
Esch dominated the glass 46-25 and handed out more assists (18-12), offsetting a higher turnover count (14-8). In the table, Esch climbs to 6th (3-3, +2), snapping a two-game slide. Contern remains 12th at 0-6, now on a six-game losing streak.
(AI generated)