BNP Parisbas edged Eurobasket B 55-54 at lux gare after a tense finish shaped by defense, free throws and late-game execution.
Eurobasket B started sharper, closing the first quarter 18-16 behind inside touches for Domas Savickas (EURB) and a pair of baskets from Konstantinos Ntontis (EURB). BNP replied with their best spell in the second: a 13-4 run flipped 16-20 into 29-24, driven by Samuel Mathurin Tchantio Kombiwo (BNP) who piled up points in the paint and at the line. BNP led 31-28 at halftime.
The third quarter swung back and forth. Svajunas Piepolis (EURB) briefly put Eurobasket ahead from the midrange before Armel Milongo (BNP) and Mohamed Cheikhrouhou (BNP) combined for a 6-0 answer to 41-38. Eurobasket trimmed it to 43-42 at the horn via Savickas at the stripe.
The fourth was a grind. Matthieu Saint (BNP) and Milongo kept BNP narrowly in front, then Piepolis hit the game's lone three-pointer for 51-54 with time running down. BNP stayed composed: Maxime Detourbe (BNP) scored quickly, and Tchantio Kombiwo delivered the decisive basket for 55-54. Eurobasket used time-outs around the final minute, but BNP's defense held.
Numbers underline BNP's route to victory: 25 two-point field goals and zero made threes. Eurobasket answered with 20 twos, one three (Piepolis) and a clear edge at the line (11 made free throws to BNP's 5). Piepolis led all scorers with 17, Savickas added 14 before fouling out late, and Baptiste Bessiere (EURB) chipped in 8. For BNP, Tchantio Kombiwo had 13, while Vivien Sanna, Milongo and Cheikhrouhou each scored 10; Sanna's two free throws early in the fourth pushed BNP to a 49-45 cushion.
Game control shifted in waves: Eurobasket's largest lead was +4 (16-20), BNP's peak was +5 (29-24). In a heated last quarter, Piepolis received a player technical and coach Piepolis was hit with two bench technicals. Coach Jérôme Vergendo's side closed with poise and earned the one-point win.
(AI generated)