North Fox edged Nitia Bettembourg 67-63 in Bettembourg after a game that swung on second-quarter control and late-shot making. FOX started 19-14 after 10 minutes and built the night's largest gap with an 11-0 run in the second quarter to 35-22, reaching halftime up 36-26.
NIT answered after the break. Badara Seck Faye (28, 1.95m, ITA) strung together three consecutive baskets to spark a push, and a 9-0 reply capped by Christopher Teck's three leveled it at 46-46. FOX, however, closed the third on a 5-0 spurt to take a 51-46 lead. Early in the fourth, Teck tied it again at 51-51, before Stephane Banga Kpako's free throws and a Sebastien Schmitz triple reestablished a 56-51 cushion. With Jona Hanf (22, 2.04m, BEL) later fouling out, the finish tightened: Louis-Stphane Lobe Lobas split free throws, then Banga Kpako buried a key three for 63-59 and, after Jrme Bous's late three cut it to 63-65, sealed it with the last basket. FOX snapped a four-game losing run; NIT remain winless.
FOX leaned on Charel Linden (18 pts, 7 reb, 7/10 FT, drew 9 fouls; Season PPG: 15.8, RPG: 6.8, AssPG: 3.3) and Banga Kpako (18 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast; Season PPG: 15.2, RPG: 7.7, AssPG: 3.0). Loic Alphonse Jacoby added 10, while Schmitz hit timely threes. Coach Mike Pravisani's side closed despite Hanf's foul-out.
For NIT, game MVP Louis-Stphane Lobe Lobas (13 pts, 11 reb, 3 ast) and El Hadji Modou Thiam Diop (17 pts, 11 reb, 4 ast; Season PPG: 8.6, RPG: 7.27, AssPG: 1.82) delivered double-doubles. Chris Leclerc chipped in 13, and Teck's two threes were momentum plays. NIT won the glass 45-36 and assisted 19-12 but were hurt by 15 turnovers.
Shooting told: NIT were good inside (2P 55%) but struggled from deep (19%) and the line (57%). FOX also labored from three (23%) yet held firm from the stripe (16/24, 67%). A bench technical on coach Bradley Gene Melton came midway through the fourth. The game-winner's imprint belonged to Banga Kpako, who delivered the decisive late points.
(AI generated)