Basket Esch overturned a 15-point first-half deficit to beat Résidence Walferdange 89-80, riding a dominant fourth quarter (24-12) and key late plays. After a 5-0 opening burst from Quinten Nelson (Season PPG: 22.33, RPG: 6.33, AssPG: 4.22), Résidence answered with a 16-4 run powered by Brendan Bailey (28, 2.03m, USA) and John Clark Slajchert (25, 1.82m, USA) to lead 21-15 after 10 minutes and 47-41 at halftime.
Nelson authored a personal 5-0 to start Q3 and kept Esch within one possession amid a free-throw-heavy stretch, but Slajchert's late triple restored a 68-65 Résidence edge entering the last quarter. The game flipped in Q4: after a brief score correction, Nelson coolly sank two free throws for 69-68, and Jordan Hicks (35, 2.01m, USA) delivered the decisive sequence with a four-point play for 77-70. Dino Ceman (Season PPG: 6.22, RPG: 4.00, AssPG: 3.00) added a late three, and despite a U2 on captain Clancy Rugg, Esch controlled the finish.
Rugg (Season PPG: 19.78, RPG: 8.89, AssPG: 2.44) was MVP with 24 points and a massive 17 rebounds, anchoring a 41-33 rebounding edge. Nelson added 31 (8/8 FT, 7/8 2PT), and Hicks 17. Among locals, Rugg set the tone; among imports, Nelson and Hicks closed it.
For Résidence, Bailey scored 29 (11 rebounds) and Slajchert 28 with an excellent 3PT clip (4/7, 57.1%). Tom Schomer contributed 11. Team-wise, Esch's efficiency inside (2PT 61% - good) and at the line (22/25 FT, 88% - good) outweighed cold perimeter shooting (30% 3PT). Résidence shot a good 39% from deep but just 41% on twos and could not stem Esch's late surge.
With the win, Esch climbs to 5th (+1, 5-4) while Résidence slips to 6th (-1, 4-5).
(AI generated)