Sparta Bertrange controlled long stretches in Contern, winning 85-77 after building a decisive early cushion. The visitors blasted out of the blocks to a 31-13 first quarter, then reached the break up 54-31. Contern steadied after halftime (22-19 in Q3) and surged late with a 24-12 fourth, trimming a 23-point deficit (60-83) down to single digits, but Sparta had done enough.
The first swing came midway through Q1: from 8-12, Sparta strung together a 19-5 close to the period, fueled by Gregory Mays (SPA), who poured in 12 points in the quarter and repeatedly got to the line. Philippe Arendt (27, 1.85m) drilled six triples overall, including three in the second quarter, as the gap ballooned. Jarvis Williams (SPA) was steady throughout with 24 points, mixing power finishes and a three.
Contern leaned on Lazar Lukic (23, 1.95m), who scored their first eight points and finished with 18, all from two-point range. Joshua Armani Ferguson (28, USA) added 21, including six free throws and a pair of fourth-quarter sequences four straight points early in the final period and a late three that powered the home push. Jaden House (CON) chipped in 18 with three makes from deep.
Game evolution defined the night. After Sparta's highest lead at 60-83, Contern closed on a 17-2 run, sparked by Mathieu Arendt (22, 1.83m) and Ferguson, while coach Gabor Boros' group tightened the screws defensively. Still, Karl Abou Khalil's Sparta managed key answers: Colin Braun (23, 1.93m) opened Q4 with a three and finished with 14, and Tom Germeaux (20, 1.99m) added a timely triple late in Q3. Notable moments included back-to-back personal fouls on Braun in Q3 and Lukic navigating four fouls without fouling out.
Cameos also mattered: Victor Stein (SPA) scored early, and Lennart Holsten (29, 2.07m, DEU) provided size in the first quarter. Désiré Sekou Louvigny (26, FRA) entered in Q4 and scored promptly as Contern chased. Sparta were the winners, with Mays and Philippe Arendt combining for 38 points and decisive first-half momentum.
(AI generated)