Etzella Ettelbruck controlled the return game at Racing Luxembourg and won 89-71, completing a 2-0 season sweep after the 93-76 home win earlier in the qualification phase.
Racing opened well and led 9-7, with Brendan Temple and Antunio Bivins active around the basket. The game turned late in the first quarter. Gavin Alexander Love's team closed on a 14-5 run, powered by Adrian Jermaine Delph and Nicholas Thomas Davis, to move in front 21-14. The visitors kept the same pace in the second period. After Racing had reduced the gap to 20-27, Etzella answered with a 13-4 spell; Delph scored 8 Etzella points in a row during that phase, and the lead grew to 44-29 at halftime.
The third quarter made the difference even clearer. Henkel and Delph opened the half with consecutive threes for 52-34, and Davis later stretched it to 70-48. Racing had a short reaction, cutting from 72-50 to 72-55 through Angelo Caruso's free throws and Johan Bouttet's three, but Etzella replied with 8 straight points early in the fourth quarter and reached its highest lead at 80-55.
Delph, the game MVP, finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 6 steals; he shot an excellent 55.6% from three and a good 55.6% on two-pointers. Davis added 29 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists. Henkel made 3 threes, and Philippe Gutenkauf had 9 points and 6 assists. Etzella shared the ball well with 22 assists and posted good team three-point shooting at 43% (14/32).
For Racing, Bivins (Season PPG: 26.70, RPG: 9.65, AssPG: 1.04) scored 24 points with 5 rebounds and 3 steals. Temple (Season PPG: 16.75, RPG: 10.43, AssPG: 2.91) added 19 points and 11 rebounds. Flenard Whitfield, 35-year-old 2.05m center, contributed 8 points and 9 rebounds. Racing was productive inside with 26 made two-pointers, but its outside shooting stayed very low at 2/21 from three.
Etzella has now won 4 straight and moves up two places to 1st. Racing remains 10th and is on a 5-game losing streak.
(AI generated)