AB Contern opened Phase 2 with a 79-71 win over Mambra Mamer in Contern/Central, edging a close contest that swung several times. The hosts led 23-19 after the first quarter and rode a dominant second period from Max Muller to a 43-35 halftime advantage. Muller strung together multiple baskets in a personal run that pushed the margin to 43-32 before Mamer trimmed it.
Mamer, coached by Paul Jacque, flipped the script after the break with a 23-15 third quarter. Buckets from Konstantinos Mazarakis (MAM) and Khan Eyal N'Guessan, plus steady scoring from Owen John Coombes (13, GBR) and Mathieu Moccia (Season PPG: 16.17), helped the visitors surge ahead 56-52. Muller answered late in the third to level it at 58-58.
The fourth stayed tight to 62-62, then Jeff Bevilacqua's team delivered the decisive blow: from 66-66, Contern pieced together a 9-0 run Muller's three, finishes by Felix Zoller and Samuel Bevilacqua stretching it to 75-66. Gabriel Rasque Schmitt added a key basket for 77-66. An unsportsmanlike foul on Bevilacqua in the final minute gave Mamer late points, but Contern closed it out. Contern's largest lead was 11; Mamer led by as many as 4.
Muller (Season PPG: 37.5) authored a standout 50 points (7 free throws, 20 two-pointers, 1 three), scoring 63% of Contern's total. Support came from Zoller (Season PPG: 12.0) with 10, Rasque Schmitt (Season PPG: 11.5) with 6, Pit Hoffmann (Season PPG: 7.67) with 6, and Bevilacqua (Season PPG: 10.33) with 7. For Mamer, Coombes posted 18, Moccia 16 (including 6 made free throws), Tammo Becker (Season PPG: 6.5) 12, and Tom Zorz (Season PPG: 9.0) 11. Captain N'Guessan (Season PPG: 12.5) had 6 amid early foul accumulation, while Mazarakis scored 6 but picked up successive fourth-quarter fouls.
Team totals: Contern 33 made twos, 2 threes and 7 free throws; Mamer 29 made twos, 1 three and 10 free throws. Contern extend their winning run to five. In the new standings, Contern start on top at 1-0; Mamer sit second at 0-1.
(AI generated)