BC Mess controlled the game from the tip and won 94-50 at Bettembourg. Barnes opened with a 3 and McCallum added a layup for a 5-0 start; Teck answered from deep, but Mess closed the first quarter 24-14. In the second, Matos Pinto's perimeter accuracy and Barnes' repeated trips to the line stretched the gap to 48-30 at halftime. Right after the break, Matos Pinto hit back-to-back threes for a personal 6-0 run, and the lead ballooned to 74-42 after three. The last quarter saw a technical on Prior Torralba and a steady push from Gauthier with consecutive baskets, Mess finishing at +44.
Mess paired efficiency with control: 61% on 2s and 43% on 3s (both good), plus 74% at the line. They logged 23 assists to only 3 turnovers. Nitia struggled to convert (31% on 2s, 24% on 3s, 67% FT) despite a notable 24 offensive rebounds.
Standouts for Mess among the imports were Barnes (24, 1.95m, USA) with 27 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists, and Matos Pinto's 20 points built on six made threes across Q1 to Q3. McCallum added 11, while Gauthier contributed 13 and a late scoring burst. In the local core, Sarkovic supplied 8.
For Nitia, Lobe Lobas (30, 1.86m, FRA) produced a hard-working 11 points and 16 rebounds, Teck hit two threes for 6, and Ercolani added 7. From the home group, Thiam Diop posted 8 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists, with Horsmans adding 6.
Mess extended its series to four straight wins; Nitia is on four straight losses. Coaching notes: Fernand Musquar's side spread the floor and moved the ball, while Bradley Gene Melton's group competed on the glass but could not turn second chances into points. Barnes also went 10-of-11 at the stripe, and Matos Pinto's third-quarter flurry marked a decisive stretch.
(AI generated)