CGDIS Luxembourg edged PWC Luxembourg 71-65 in the Bascol Coupe eliminatoires at lvauban, pulling away in the final quarter after a tight, back-and-forth game. CGDIS took the opener 22-20 on a late three by Jo Schumacher (CGD), PWC answered 16-13 in the second to lead 36-35 at halftime, before CGDIS regained control 15-12 in the third and closed it 21-17.
Key swing came early in the fourth: from 50-52, CGDIS strung together an 8-0 burst in under two minutes. Player-coach Michael M'Putu (CGD) drilled a three, Christophe Theiss (CGD) added a layup, and Charles Kirsch (CGD) hit from deep for 60-50, the first of several 10-point cushions. PWC rallied as Davide Pochettino (PWC) scored five in a row (2+3) to make it 55-62, and Federico Bianchi (PWC) and Ilija Delas (PWC) chipped away to 63-69, then 65-69 in the final minute. Kirsch sealed it with two free throws.
CGDIS leaned on a prolific duo: Theiss posted 22 points (8 2FGM, 1 triple, 3 FT), and M'Putu added 24, powered by 9 made free throws and three triples. Kirsch contributed 12 with two late free throws and a pair of threes, while Schumacher had 11 and hit the first-quarter buzzer triple. For PWC, Bianchi, Pochettino and Carlos Alegret Ros (PWC) each scored 12, Delas had 10, and Mario Anic (PWC) and Pietro Falaschi (PWC) added 8 apiece. Falaschi's personal 6-0 in the second quarter flipped a 22-24 deficit into a 28-24 lead, PWC's largest of the night.
The shot profile told the story: PWC owned the paint with 23 two-point field goals (46 points), but CGDIS outgunned them from deep 7-3 and from the line 16-10, matching exactly the six-point margin. Foul trouble weighed on the finish. Pochettino fouled out in the closing stages, slowing PWC's surge, and M'Putu fouled out late after doing major damage. Both benches were directed by player-coaches, with M'Putu on one side and Alegret Ros on the other. CGDIS' largest lead reached 10 in the fourth; PWC's peaked at 4 in the second.
(AI generated)