Etzella Ettelbruck won 85-78 at T71 Dudelange in a game that stayed competitive but was largely shaped by ETZ's control of the middle quarters.
The opening period was balanced. Deantoni Gordon (ETZ) set the early tone with 6 of his team's first 8 points, while Jimmie Taylor (T71) answered quickly and helped keep T71 level before ETZ edged the quarter 22-20.
The visitors created first separation in the second quarter. Marvin Delgado dos Santos (ETZ) and Tim Schomer (ETZ) stretched the floor, and ETZ moved in front 41-29 before T71 reduced the gap slightly to 41-33 at halftime.
The decisive sequence came in the third quarter. T71 was still close at 37-45, but after the unsportsmanlike foul on Denell Devonn Stephens (40, 1.93m, USA), ETZ produced an 8-0 run. Travis Henson (ETZ) scored 6 straight points in that stretch, and the lead grew to 53-37. Schomer added two more threes later in the period, and ETZ carried a 67-51 advantage into the last quarter. Their highest lead reached 18 points.
T71 still threatened late. From 51-69, coach Yves André Defraigne's team responded with a 16-3 run to cut the score to 67-72. Taylor drove that comeback with 11 points in the run and finished with 27 points, including 7 made three-pointers. Dino Ceman (T71) added 10, while Stephens and Daris Honsic (T71) scored 8 each.
ETZ answered the comeback calmly. Delgado dos Santos scored, Henson hit a key three, Philippe Gutenkauf (ETZ) added two free throws and then a late three, before Henson closed the scoring from deep. Henson led ETZ with 20 points, Gordon and Delgado dos Santos each had 16, and Philippe Gutenkauf contributed 13.
(AI generated)