AS CFL edged CGDIS Luxembourg 74-70 in Mondercange after a tense finish. The visitors burst out 12-2 and led 21-16 after the first quarter, but CFL steadied when Paul Thinnes strung together 6 straight points in Q1. The second quarter flipped the game: Jeff Besch and captain Patrick Walravens drove a 26-15 period, capped by an 8-0 run to halftime (from 34-36 to 42-36), with Luca-Emanuel Bogatu burying a late three.
CGDIS answered after the break with an 8-0 start to reclaim a 44-42 edge, only for CFL to deliver a 14-2 punch, fuelled by Walravens and Besch, to close the third up 56-46. CFL reached its largest lead at 61-49 early in the fourth (Besch from deep), and still led 63-54 before CGDIS ignited again: Kafer Jerome and Jim Sauber combined for an 11-1 run that swung the score to 68-67 for the visitors.
The closing minute belonged to CFL. After Jerome Gardin committed back-to-back P2 fouls, Besch hit two free throws for 70-68. Sauber tied it, but Thinnes drove in the go-ahead basket for 72-70, and Besch, fouled again (with Charles Kirsch whistled twice for P2 late), coolly sank two more to seal it. CFL closed on a 7-2 run.
Top performers
- AS CFL: Patrick Walravens 25 points (2 threes, 7 made FTs) set the tone, and Jeff Besch 24 (3 threes, 5 FTs) delivered the winning free throws. Thinnes added 10 and the game-winner.
- CGDIS: Kafer Jerome led with 19 (3 threes), Sauber 18 (including a late three), Christophe Theiss 14, Kirsch 9, Joe Berwick 8.
Discipline shaped the finale: Gardin's three P2 fouls in the fourth and Kirsch's two P2 in the final minute put CFL on the stripe. Coach Georges Wolzfeld's side showed resilience after the 0-12 start, while Michael M'PUTU's team nearly stole it with that late surge.
(AI generated)
AS CFL 
