Racing Luxembourg left Mondercange with a second win over BC Mess this season, 79-69, repeating the October success (80-73) and remaining unbeaten in the championship round. Coach Hristo Stoykov's team imposed its rhythm early: 22-12 after the first quarter, then a dominant second period (22-16) that included a 20-8 tear to stretch the lead to a game-high +22 (20-42, then 22-44) at the break.
Mess rallied after halftime. Jamie Freymann (Season PPG: 16.0) and Pedrito Kemevuako (Season PPG: 18.25) chipped away, but captain Louis Cocard (Season PPG: 13.63) responded with five points in a row (2+3) to reestablish Racing's cushion and keep it 58-43 after 30 minutes. The hosts opened the fourth with a 7-0 burst Kemevuako scored five straight to close to 50-58, and later cut it to 69-75 inside the final minute. Racing held firm: Cocard knocked down three straight free throws before Sarunas Sulcas added the last basket to seal it.
Racing's balance stood out: Oskar Berger led with 24 (Season PPG: 11.57), Sulcas added 18 (Season PPG: 14.5), Cocard 12 (1.89m), and Yair Portal Levav 9. For Mess, Freymann poured in 27 and Kemevuako 22 (17 years, AGO), while André Cristostomo Ribeiro (17 years, PRT) contributed 10. Starter Yann Krings (Season PPG: 9.38) fouled out late, and Freymann picked up multiple fouls in the closing stretch as Mess chased the game.
Racing climbs to 2nd in the table (+1) and extends its winning streak to eight. Mess, now 6th, slips to a three-game losing run but showed character in the final quarter under coach Joao Carlos Santiago Janeiro.
(AI generated)