Sparta Bertrange controlled the return game in Walferdange and won 89-72, taking the season series 2-0 after the 100-94 home win earlier in the qualification phase.
Karl Abou Khalil's team set the tone early. After Bailey's opening three had given RES a 3-2 lead, Sparta answered through Victor Iwuakor, Max Logelin and Tom Germeaux and closed the first quarter in front 20-11.
Walferdange briefly reopened the game in the second period. They cut it to 16-20, and after Philippe Arendt's unsportsmanlike foul, Tom Schomer made 2 free throws for 18-22. That was the key stretch of the half: Jarvis Williams (Season PPG: 22.45, RPG: 6.3, AssPG: 2.3), the 36-year-old American, then went on a real roll with 21 second-quarter points, including 5 three-pointers, and Sparta pushed the margin to 48-36 at halftime.
Résidence twice reduced the gap to 8 points, at 40-48 early in the third quarter and 54-67 at the start of the fourth, but never got closer. Williams, the game MVP, finished with 29 points and excellent 60.0% from 3-point range. Yannick Verbeelen (Season PPG: 10.86, RPG: 3.32, AssPG: 2.71) added 14 points on an excellent 4/4 from 2-point range, and Logelin contributed 14 more. Sparta posted good shooting from 2-point range (56.3%) and 3-point range (43.8%), with 17 assists and 13 steals. Their highest lead was 20 points at 89-69.
For Rainer Kloss' side, John Clark Slajchert (Season PPG: 27.05, RPG: 5.4, AssPG: 3.63) led with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, while Brendan Bailey (Season PPG: 22.73, RPG: 9.33, AssPG: 1.47) had 18 points and 9 rebounds. Oliver Vujakovic added 8 points, and Schomer delivered 10 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals before fouling out. RES shot 50.0% on 2-pointers and a good 36.4% on 3-pointers, but 19 turnovers and Sparta's repeated scoring answers kept the game under control for the visitors.
(AI generated)