BC Mess overpowered Nitia Bettembourg 101-66 in Mondercange, flipping the script from the first meeting (68-102). Under coach Joao Carlos Santiago Janeiro, Mess set the tone with a 26-10 first quarter and never looked back, leading 42-25 at halftime before detonating the game with a 38-13 third period to 80-38. The margin peaked at +44 (76-32) in the third. Nitia, guided by coach Mike Ricardo Mendes Araujo, took the fourth 28-21 but the gap was long decided.
Game flow highlights
- After Nitia's first basket, Mess answered with a 6-0 burst (threes by Pedrito Kemevuako and Giovanni Kemevuako).
- The decisive stretch came after the break: Raphaël Alves Nunes (16) caught fire with 14 points in the third, including two consecutive threes, while Giovanni Kemevuako (21, 1.93m) added 9 in that frame and strung together five points in a row late in the run.
- In the fourth, Wesley Almeida hit four free throws in a row to spark Nitia's late reaction.
Top performers
- Mess: Noah Bertolini (21, 1.75m) led with 20 points. Alves Nunes added 16, Jamie Freymann (17, 1.80m) 14, Giovanni Kemevuako 14, Mika Cambiotti (20, 1.83m) 13 and Pedrito Kemevuako (17, 1.80m, AGO) 13.
- Nitia: Almeida (Season PPG: 14.25) scored 15. Mathieu Ercolani (Season PPG: 19.29) had 13. Owen Chen (Season PPG: 19.25) added 9, as did Jack Da Costa Fernandes (Season PPG: 4.29). Maik Zhan (Season PPG: 10.40) hit 8 with perimeter touches, and Aaron Rodrigues-Otto (Season PPG: 5.83) chipped in 6.
Discipline and turning points
- Mess stayed in control despite an unsportsmanlike foul by André Cristostomo Ribeiro in the second quarter.
- Nitia's starter Noah Butler (Season PPG: 3.43) collected two early infractions and eventually fouled out in the fourth, compounding the visitor's difficulties.
Form and standings
Mess, previously on a five-game losing streak, finally broke through and now sits 7th (1-6). Nitia are 5th (2-6) and have now dropped six in a row after opening the season with two wins.
(AI generated)