Black Star Mersch B controlled this round 1 cup game after a clear change of rhythm at halftime. Luxembourg Phoenix struck first through Joseph Zeidan Ep. Beaucourt (33) from three for 2-3, but BSMB answered with a 13-2 run and took the first quarter 15-5. Pol Rodesch (33) set the tone early with 9 points in the opening period.
CED reacted well in the second quarter. Zeidan Ep. Beaucourt stayed productive, Oscar Khoury (22) brought points at the line and from long range, and the visitors edged the period 20-19. Even so, they never got closer than 9 points at the break because Pit Diederich (34, 1.91m) and Pit Jaans (25) kept Mersch in control at 34-25.
The decisive moment came immediately after halftime. Coach Lisa Hilges' team opened the third quarter with a 12-0 burst to move to 46-25, with Yannick Beckers (24) scoring again and again near the basket. CED briefly stopped the run through Khoury and Ribal Tahtouh (32, LBN), but BSMB finished the quarter on another 14-0 stretch. That turned a still playable game into a 60-29 lead, the biggest gap of the evening at 31 points. Beckers scored 10 points in that quarter alone.
The last quarter was better from Phoenix, who won it 16-10. Francois Tegho (Season PPG: 2.00) scored all 10 of his points in the fourth, and Dany Deaibes (25, LBN) added 4 late points. For BSMB, Rodesch finished with 15 points, Jaans 14, Diederich 11 and Beckers 10. For CED, Zeidan Ep. Beaucourt had 11, Tegho 10 and Khoury 8.
(AI generated)