Racing Luxembourg D pulled away late to win 62-53 in Contern after three quarters that stayed within a single possession. Contern opened with a Jeff Besch triple, but Lan Horvat Kovac fueled an 8-0 reply (two baskets from mid-range, Serrano inside) for 3-8 and a 12-13 first break. In the second, Ander Pesch and Jorge Montero strung together baskets to 16-21 before Patrick Walravens steadied Contern with four straight free throws; Bagdonas and Sébastien Hommel traded threes for 26-27 at halftime.
The third swung back and forth: after Horvat's technical, Besch briefly put Contern ahead, Horvat answered with a three and a two, Michel Kirsch replied from deep, and Montero scored on consecutive drives. Racing led 44-43 entering the last period.
Walravens authored a personal 5-0 run to pull Contern within 48-49, but the game turned on a sequence: Horvat scored, Kirsch was whistled for an unsportsmanlike, and two consecutive bench technicals on coach Sébastien Hommel handed Racing repeated trips to the line. Pesch and Montero converted, Delaplace added a layup and Horvat buried a late three for the night's biggest lead (51-62). Contern's top scorer Besch (16) then fouled out, blunting the hosts' response.
Top performers
- Racing, non-domestic: Lan Horvat Kovac (27, SVN) 25 with a late dagger three; Serrano Repolles (RACD) 8; Montero Gonzalez (RACD) 8; veteran Luca Cedrati (47, ITA) hit a key triple.
- Racing, domestic core: Ander Pesch 10 and calm late free throws.
- Contern, domestic core: Jeff Besch (Season PPG: 12.29) 16, Patrick Walravens (Season PPG: 18.57) 14 with pivotal runs, Michel Kirsch 12 and a late three.
Racing consolidates 2nd place (6-2), Contern sits 4th (4-4).
(AI generated)