Basket Esch controlled the return meeting in Contern from the first quarter and completed the qualification sweep after its earlier 84-62 home win. Contern started with a Ferguson three for 3-0, but Esch quickly settled through Jordan Hicks and Clancy Mac Rugg. Hicks scored 11 points in the opening period, and Damien Thill's late three gave LAL a 27-17 lead after 10 minutes.
Contern's best spell came early in the second quarter. Mathieu Arendt and Joshua Armani Ferguson (Season PPG: 19.00, RPG: 12.32, AssPG: 2.90) helped cut the gap to 23-29. Esch answered through Rugg, who was the key figure before halftime and pushed the visitors back to a double-digit margin. At the break, LAL led 48-35.
The decisive moment came after halftime. William Caletti Telou scored first for Contern, but Esch replied with a 10-0 run, highlighted by a Nelson three and a Rugg triple, to move from 48-37 to 58-37. Midway through the third quarter, coach Anthony Tomba was charged with two technical fouls during that difficult stretch. Esch kept the pressure on and entered the last quarter up 72-48. The highest lead reached 29 points at 77-48 and 79-50.
Rugg (Season PPG: 19.90, RPG: 8.84, AssPG: 2.88) finished with 25 points and 9 rebounds, shooting an excellent 8/9 on free throws. Nelson (Season PPG: 20.73, RPG: 5.46, AssPG: 3.96) added 13 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals, while Hicks (Season PPG: 15.25, RPG: 5.19, AssPG: 1.69) had 15 points. For Contern, Ferguson posted 20 points, 15 rebounds and 2 blocks with an excellent 9/9 at the line. Jeffrey Schumacher (Season PPG: 5.95, RPG: 3.61, AssPG: 1.19) brought 16 points on a good 7/11 shooting from the field.
Team numbers underlined the gap: Esch had good shooting at 75% on free throws and 37.5% from three, plus 19 assists and 8 blocks. Contern finished at 55.6% on free throws and 18.2% from long range.
(AI generated)