BC Mess controlled North Fox 100-78 in the Nationale 2 qualification round in Mondercange, built on a blistering 34-13 first quarter. Fernand Musquar's team spaced the floor, ran, and shared the ball early; Cobie Logan Barnes (24, 1.95 m, USA) hit a quick three and piled on drives and transition points as Mess opened a 21-point lead after 10 minutes.
Charel Linden's Fox settled in during the second quarter (24-22) to reach halftime at 56-37, then pushed back after the break. Loc Alphonse Jacoby (21, 1.77 m) and Linden alternated scores in the third to trim it to 75-60 after 30 minutes. The fourth turned eventful: an unsportsmanlike foul on S. Schmitz gave Barnes two free throws, while later an unsportsmanlike on F.B.Z. Gauthier allowed Stphane Banga Kpako to sink three free throws in a row. Each time, Mess answered from deep: Gauthier, Deanthony Kendrick McCallum (27, 1.90 m, USA), Giovanni Kemevuako (21, 1.93 m) and Barnes all struck from beyond the arc, pushing the margin to a peak +26 (100-74) before the 100-78 final.
Shooting told the story: Mess hit 68% on 2s and 36.6% on 3s (both good), with 71% at the line. Fox managed 45.8% on 2s, 28.6% from 3 and just 26.1% on free throws. Fox owned the offensive glass 21-7, but Mess' 23 assists and fewer turnovers (13 vs 17) made the difference.
Barnes delivered a dominant line: 49 points (11/14 2P, 8/14 3P, 5/7 FT), 16 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals and 2 blocks. McCallum added 24 points and 5 boards. For Fox, Jona Hanf (2.04 m, 22, BEL) was efficient inside with 14 points on 7/10 2P and 13 rebounds (7 offensive), while Jacoby scored 17 (2 threes) and Linden also had 17. Banga Kpako finished with 12.
Mess fielded two professionals while Fox had none, a gap that showed in scoring punch. The result keeps Mess on a four-game winning streak; Fox slide to four straight losses. Coaches: Musquar's side closed with perimeter precision, while Linden's team fought back on the boards but paid for missed free throws.
(AI generated)