Musel Pikes beat Sparta Bertrange 71-61 in the M-U22 Qualifications, riding a strong middle stretch to take control. Sparta edged the first quarter 12-10, but the game flipped in the second period when Enzo Sanna strung five points in a row (2+3) and Jason Hartz answered a Sparta push with a three, sending Musel to halftime up 31-27.
Sparta struck first after the break with a 5-0 to lead 32-31, but Musel's reply was emphatic. Hartz (Season PPG: 19.43) steadied them at the line and from deep, David Ferreira Gordo (Season PPG: 8.33) added a triple, and Marko Mustafic (21, 1.88m, HRV) went on a mini-run with back-to-back baskets. Even a third-quarter technical assessed to coach Adrien Frédérique Jacquet did not slow the hosts; they closed the period 54-41 after a 23-9 surge from 31-32 down.
Early in the fourth, Emilijus Greicius (Season PPG: 3.00) scored twice in succession for 60-41, Musel's largest lead (+19). Sparta refused to fold: Tom Germeaux (26 pts; 20 years, 1.99m) and Théo Mc Leod (21 pts; 17, 1.79m, FRA) dragged it back to 66-59. Ferreira Gordo then effectively sealed it with five straight points (three free throws and a layup) to restore a double-digit gap.
Top performers for Musel: Mustafic 21, Hartz 20, Ferreira Gordo 11, Sanna 9 (Season PPG: 11.00). For Sparta: Germeaux 26, Mc Leod 21; Diego Maestro Varillas added 6. No player fouled out.
Musel's fourth straight win lifts them to first place in the standings. Sparta, now on a three-game slide, sit sixth.
(AI generated)