Nitia Bettembourg advanced from the M-Coupe Minis 1/16 finales with a 65-51 win in Rodange after taking control in the middle quarters.
The game began on balanced terms. Kordall Steelers started 4-0, but NIT settled quickly and edged the first quarter 12-11. The visitors closed that opening period on a 6-0 run, with Jacques Zeimet (NIT) and Ethan Brouillet (NIT) giving them the lead.
The decisive break came in the second quarter. KDS briefly moved in front at 16-14, but Bettembourg answered with 10 straight points to go up 24-16. Brouillet was central in that stretch, while Yohannes Thomas Michael (NIT) kept adding points around the basket. NIT won the quarter 24-11 and built a 36-22 halftime advantage.
Coach Jérôme Defer's side kept the momentum after the break. Brouillet opened the third quarter with a three-pointer and stayed on a roll, while Michael and Esteban Bayegi Franck (NIT) helped extend the margin. Bettembourg entered the last quarter ahead 52-31, their highest lead reaching 23 points.
Kordall responded well in the fourth under coach Arnaud Sirjean. Ryan Wakam Kamogne (KDS), Adham Asfarelouldidi (KDS) and Matteo Cavuoto (KDS) led a 9-2 push that cut the deficit from 31-54 to 40-56, and later the home side came back to 49-60. NIT stayed composed in that phase, with Luca Marnach de Angelis (NIT) hitting a late three before Zeimet finished the scoring.
Top scorers were Brouillet with 19, Michael with 15 and Marnach de Angelis with 9 for NIT. For KDS, Wakam Kamogne scored 15, Asfarelouldidi 13 and Cavuoto 12. Michael fouled out late, but his impact had already been important in Bettembourg's key run.
(AI generated)