Musel Pikes edged Arantia Larochette 87-84 and moved up to 1st place (+7), while Arantia dropped to 3rd. The game stayed close, but its rhythm was marked by several sharp momentum swings.
Musel led 25-24 after the first quarter, with Kyle Johnson (26, 2.03m, USA) and Sanna (MUS) giving the home side early scoring. Arantia answered through Michael Imariagbe (24, 2.01m, USA), who was already active around the basket and at the line. Early in the second period, Arantia turned 24-25 into 29-25, and later still held a 38-35 edge. Philip Dejworek's team finished the half better and went in front again at 44-43.
The third quarter was Arantia's best stretch. A 9-0 start pushed the visitors to 52-44, and they later reached the game's biggest lead at 65-57. Imariagbe and De Sousa Silva (ARA) drove that phase. Musel, however, stayed within reach through Hammond III (24, 1.88m, USA) and Johnson and cut the gap to 65-61 before the last quarter.
The fourth period brought the decisive exchange. Arantia went from 65-64 to 71-64 with six straight points, but Musel answered immediately with a 7-0 run for 71-71. Wilson (ARA) kept the visitors in front for stretches, and Bouttet (MUS) hit a late three for 81-80. At 84-84, the winning play came from Sanna (MUS), who buried the decisive three.
Johnson posted 20 points and 17 rebounds and was named MVP. Hammond added 24 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Sanna scored 17 with outstanding shooting: 4/4 on 2-pointers and 3/3 from three. Musel shot well from the field: 62% on 2-pointers and 42% on 3-pointers.
For Arantia, Imariagbe finished with 24 points and 7 rebounds, De Sousa Silva had 15 points, Wilson added 11 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, and McClary (23, 1.89m, USA) contributed 4 steals. Arantia were excellent at the line at 14/15 and good on 2-pointers at 61%, but 8/41 from three weighed on the result.
(AI generated)