BC Mess won a close relégation opener in Bascharage, 89-86, after overturning a strong first quarter from the Hedgehogs. Dejan Pavlovic's team led 32-25 after 10 minutes and was still up 40-32 in the second period, with Bascharage getting early production from Veljko Dragasevic (Season PPG: 16.48, RPG: 5.21, AssPG: 6.21), Aziz Ndiaye (Season PPG: 19.04, RPG: 15.12, AssPG: 2.81) and Fabien Vandler (Season PPG: 8.07, RPG: 3.47, AssPG: 1.87).
Stéphane Frentzel's side stayed in touch through Deanthony Kendrick McCallum (Season PPG: 26.36, RPG: 5.5, AssPG: 5.12). He scored 15 points in the first quarter alone, helped tie the game at 42-42, and Mess won the second quarter 22-12 to go into the break ahead 47-44. The visitors then controlled the third quarter and built their biggest lead at 69-58.
Bascharage reacted in the fourth. A 9-2 push brought it back to 71-67, and Vandler's basket gave BAS a 77-76 lead. The next key swing came immediately: Mess answered with 7 straight points, mostly from the foul line, to move to 83-77. Bascharage still closed to 86-87, but late free throws from McCallum and Jamie Freymann (Season PPG: 4.14, RPG: 1.60, AssPG: 0.70) secured the away win.
McCallum finished with 36 points, 5 assists, 13 fouls drawn and excellent 2-point shooting at 10/14. Gauthier added 18 points with good efficiency. For BAS, Ndiaye, the 29-year-old 2.03m Senegalese center, posted 25 points and 17 rebounds, while Dragasevic had 24 points, 7 assists and excellent shooting from 2 and 3 points (2/2, 5/9). Bascharage shot a good 37% from three, but only 10/18 on free throws. Mess were better inside at a good 53.7% on 2-pointers. Late foul trouble also mattered for BAS, with Vandler, Malik Demirovic and Dzenan Eco all fouling out.
(AI generated)