Nitia Bettembourg edged Black Star Mersch 60-57 in Mersch after overturning a doubledigit deficit. BSM controlled the first half: a late firstquarter surge led by Raphael Solomon (15) set a 17-11 cushion, and Solomon opened Q2 with a 5-0 personal run (including a three) to the night's largest lead, 22-11. At halftime BSM were up 34-27.
Nitia reset after the break. With Mathieu Ercolani (13) and Owen Chen (28, 1.76m, CHN) driving the comeback, the visitors closed Q3 on a 7-0 run to 43-43. The fourth quarter swung early on Bilal Hamil's basket for 43-45, and after a 49-49 tie, Chen strung together six straight points (free throw, drive, three) to make it 55-49 Nitia's biggest gap (+6). BSM stayed alive at the line through Sam Tibold (16) and Leandro Da Silva Nunes, but Wesley Almeida's late basket preserved the lead.
Top performers: for Nitia, Chen's mix of penetration, trips to the line (6 made) and two threes proved decisive, with support from Ercolani and Hamil (8). For BSM, Tibold was steady all night, while Solomon fueled the early run; Trey Sean Boayue and Nil Madoki Bidas added 8 apiece. Coach Isabelle Duboutay's side won the second half 33-23 to start with a win; Jérôme Hansen's group opens with a loss. BSM led by as many as 11; Nitia by 6.
(AI generated)