Amicale Steesel edged Sparta Bertrange 95-91 in a close qualification-round game. After two games, Amicale stands 4th and Sparta 8th, both at 1-1.
Karl Abou Khalil's Sparta reacted well after an early 10-3 deficit. The visitors closed the first quarter on a 15-4 run to lead 18-14, then opened the second by stretching the margin to 25-14. Amicale stayed in contact through Conley Leroy Phipps III (26, 1.88m, USA) and Landon George Seaman (24, 2.03m, USA), but Sparta still held a 43-37 halftime advantage.
The turning point came in the third quarter. Darko Ristic's team won that period 28-15. Phipps, Maid Adrovic (18, 1.98m) and Seaman pushed Amicale through an 11-2 sequence, turning a deficit into a 65-58 lead. Early in the fourth, Amicale reached its highest lead at 83-68.
Sparta kept coming back. Game MVP Jarvis Terrill Williams (36, 1.98m, USA) carried the visitors and scored 7 straight late points as Sparta cut the gap to 93-91. In the decisive moments, Amicale's winners were Phipps and Noah Medeot (27, 1.79m), who provided the last free throws.
Phipps finished with 30 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 8 fouls drawn. Seaman added 28 points and 9 rebounds. Adrovic scored 17 and was excellent from three-point range at 3/3. For Sparta, Williams delivered 35 points, 5 rebounds and 7 fouls drawn, with excellent free-throw shooting at 10/10. Max Logelin (23, 1.87m) added 21 points, and Avelon Luke John Jr (30, 2.02m, USA) had 10 points and 7 rebounds.
Amicale shot a good 60% on 2-pointers and a good 42% from three. Sparta answered with good 85% at the line and good 63% on 2-pointers, but only 29% from three.
(AI generated)