BC Mess edged Thionville 83-76 after overtime in Mondercange, a game that swung wildly before being settled in the extra five minutes.
Mess set the tone early: 19-14 after the first quarter, then a dominant 19-5 second quarter. The hosts opened Q2 with a 16-0 run to reach 35-14 and held their biggest lead at +21 before halftime (38-19). Thionville replied after the break, taking the third 24-15 and chipping the gap to 53-43. In the fourth, the visitors produced a 14-2 surge that flipped 58-49 into a 60-63 deficit for Mess, fueled by Adrien (THI) with timely scoring and a triple from the other Adrien (THI). Lucas (THI) kept them level late and it finished 70-70 after regulation.
Overtime belonged to Mess. Deanthony McCallum (MES) opened the extra period with 5 straight points, scored 8 in OT, and repeatedly steadied the offense. Cobie Barnes (MES) added calm free throws (3 in OT), and GAUTHIER Fabbri (MES) hit the final field goal as Mess closed on a 5-0 run. Thionville also lost a starter to five fouls in OT, which reduced their options in the last minutes.
Top performers
- Mess: Barnes (MES) 28 points and McCallum (MES) 27 were decisive. Support came from GAUTHIER Fabbri (MES) 9 and Noah Bertolini (21, 1.75m, MES) 9. Veteran Damien Rupil (38, MES) chipped in. Andrade Monteiro (23, PRT, MES) added points from the bench.
- Thionville: Adrien (THI) led with 22, the other Adrien (THI) had 17, while Lucas (THI) and Raphaël (THI) scored 8 each.
Notable stretches: Mess's 16-0 blitz to start Q2, Thionville's 14-2 charge in Q4, and McCallum's personal flurry to start OT. For Mess, Yann Krings (MES) picked up three fouls in quick succession in Q2, and Giovanni Kemevuako (MES) finished on four, but coach Fernand Musquar's group managed the foul load and executed late. Coach Roger's side showed character to force the extra period.
(AI generated)