Arcus edged AS CFL 71-66 in Mondercan, flipping a game that swung several times and was decided in the final minutes.
CFL started sharper, 23-17 after the first quarter on the back of Jeff Besch (CFL) and Luca Bogatu (CFL). Early in the second, triples by Paul Thinnes (CFL) and Patrick Walravens (CFL) pushed the lead to 29-17, the night's largest gap. Arcus answered through Beno Kraus (ACU), who strung together three straight made 2-pointers in the middle of the quarter to steady the visitors. With long-range makes from Michail Kouris (ACU) and Tony Martins Ferreira (ACU), Arcus nosed in front 43-42 at halftime.
Walravens opened the third with five consecutive points (3+2 FTs) for 47-43, only for Kouris to fire back with back-to-back threes for 47-49. CFL closed the period stronger, Walravens adding another triple for a 61-55 edge after three.
The fourth belonged to Arcus. Eric Wagner (CFL) briefly made it 63-55, but Malik Wilson (ACU) began a decisive march to the line, knocking down four consecutive free throws to pull Arcus within one possession. Kouris added a key two, and Martins Ferreira drilled a three to tie at 63-63. After Walravens restored a 66-63 CFL lead, Martins Ferreira answered again from deep for 66-66. Wilson then delivered the go-ahead basket (66-68) and tacked on two more free throws before Kraus sealed it at the stripe.
Top performers:
- Arcus: Kouris (21 points, five triples) kept the perimeter threat constant; Wilson (19) made 11 free throws and scored the decisive field goal; Kraus (13) fueled the second-quarter comeback and hit the last point; Martins Ferreira (12) hit four threes, including two fourth-quarter equalizers.
- AS CFL: Walravens (24; four 1s, four 2s, four 3s) led throughout; Besch added 19 with three triples; Wagner had 8.
Coach Luc Kirsch's group won the fourth 16-5, leveraging free throws and timely threes. Coach Michael Cotellesa's side led most of the night but couldn't find late scoring to close it out.
(AI generated)