US Heffingen controlled the trip to Bettembourg, winning 79-57 after a steady build: 18-17 after Q1, 37-32 at half, the gap breaking open with a 22-13 third quarter and a final push to the largest lead of the night at +25. Nitia called an early timeout at 4-12 after a 7-0 Heffingen burst in Q1, then answered with an 8-0 to close the period. In Q2, Badara Seck Faye (28, 1.95m, ITA) scored four in a row for Nitia to make it 21-18, but Luke Henry Haasl (Season PPG: 18.0, RPG: 13.0, AssPG: 2.4) replied with two three-pointers and USH went to the locker room +5. The decisive stretch came after the break: from 38-44 to 40-54, Heffingen strung together a 6-0 inside run, then closed Q4 with a 7-0 to 54-79 before the hosts reduced the margin.
Heffingen's front line was the difference. Haasl poured in 27 points on excellent shooting (2P 9/10=90%; 3P 2/2), while Austin Joseph Parker III (Season PPG: 17.0, RPG: 9.0, AssPG: 2.4) added 21 with an excellent 2P clip (10/14). Thomas Killian Quarry (Season PPG: 27.8, RPG: 7.6, AssPG: 1.7) scored 24, perfect at the line (7/7). From the core group, Gerry Schuder Minden (Season PPG: 12.4, RPG: 3.7, AssPG: 2.1) hit a late three. Coach Alexis Kreps' team shot a good 51% on 2s and won the glass 44-35 (14 offensive), turning 16 steals into separation.
For Nitia, Louis-Stéphane Lobe Lobas (30, 1.86m) battled with 12 points and 15 rebounds, shooting an excellent 71% on 2s. Christopher Teck (31, 1.70m, BEL) added 10 with a good 40% from deep, Daniel Prior Torralba (30, 1.92m) chipped in 5 including a 3 (50% 3P). Chris Leclerc (30, 1.80m) was limited by foul trouble (4 fouls). Coach Bradley Gene Melton's side struggled at the line (4/10) and from outside (26% 3P).
Form trend continues: Heffingen opens the round-robin at 4-0, Nitia falls to 0-4. Note: Heffingen lined up two professionals, Nitia one.
(AI generated)