BC Mess, now 3rd in the relegation round after a one-place gain, won a close road game at 5th-placed CFBB U18, 71-66.
The game changed direction early. U18 started on an 11-0 run behind Sarunas Sulcas and El Hadji Modou Thiam Diop, but Mess answered quickly and finished the first quarter in front, 20-19. The visitors kept that control in the second period, going to 32-27 at halftime, then resisted every U18 push in a high-scoring third quarter to stay ahead 55-49.
Cobie Logan Barnes (Season PPG: 34.28, RPG: 11.58, AssPG: 2.50), the 25-year-old USA 1.95m forward/center, was the key difference. He produced 32 points and 13 rebounds, with good shooting efficiency: 9/11 on free throws and 10/15 on 2-pointers. Pedrito Kemevuako (Season PPG: 4.83, RPG: 2.22, AssPG: 2.48) added 10 points, including four 3-pointers, and Jamie Freymann scored 8.
U18 stayed close through Sulcas (Season PPG: 12.25, RPG: 5.05, AssPG: 2.50), who finished with 26 points, and Thiam Diop (Season PPG: 9.40, RPG: 8.54, AssPG: 1.56), who posted 14 points and 18 rebounds before fouling out. Louis Cocard (Season PPG: 6.17, RPG: 2.15, AssPG: 1.00) brought 12 points and hit big shots in the last quarter.
CFBB U18 clearly won the rebound battle, 48-27, but Mess were better in the decisive areas: 12/16 from the line against 6/16 for U18, and only 13 turnovers against 20. U18 cut the margin to 64-61 and later 70-66 late in the fourth, but Barnes kept answering, while Gauthier scored the last Mess point. U18 also had two technical fouls charged to coach Denis Toroman.
(AI generated)