Sparta Bertrange controlled the trip to Tramsschapp, beating Racing Luxembourg 101-85 in a game shaped by a decisive third quarter and superior efficiency inside the arc. In front of 140 spectators, the opening period stayed tight (20-23) with Victor Chidi Iwuakor setting the tone early for Sparta, while a tense first quarter also featured an unsportsmanlike on Max Logelin and a technical on Angelo Caruso.
The second quarter swung on Victor Stein's back-to-back triples, pushing Sparta from 25-23 down to 25-29. Just before the break, a 10-2 Sparta burst (Arendt, Williams, Iwuakor) stretched the gap to 41-50. The third quarter proved decisive: Yannick Verbeelen strung together five straight points, Stein added a basket, and Jarvis Williams knocked down four consecutive free throws as the lead ballooned to 58-76. Sparta's highest lead reached +19 twice (75-94 and 82-101). Racing split the fourth (25-25), but the damage was done.
Racing actually dominated the glass (46-30, including 15 offensive), yet Sparta's 2-point efficiency (24/37, 65%, good) was a separator. Both teams shot 67% on free throws and struggled from deep (RAC 9/30, 30%; SPA 6/25, 24%).
Top performers
- Sparta: Iwuakor (23 pts, 9/11 on 2s - excellent; MVP, 25 PIR; Season PPG: 19.75, RPG: 8.91, AssPG: 1.27) and Williams (19; Season PPG: 27.10, RPG: 6.29), backed by Logelin (14; 8/9 FT; Season PPG: 17.50) and Stein (14, 4/5 3s - excellent). Late triples from Jules Beicht and Charel Wallenborn (26, 1.86m) sealed it.
- Racing: Antunio Bivins (20; 8/13 2s; Season PPG: 24.00, RPG: 11.30, AssPG: 3.30) and Steve Lanners (20; Season PPG: 11.60) led the reply; Emanuel Loncaric added 12.
Key foul notes: Brendan Temple (12; Season PPG: 17.30, RPG: 10.50) fouled out in the fourth, shortly before Iwuakor did the same; Sparta's cushion held.
Under coach Karl Abou Khalil, Sparta stays perfect atop the table (10-0, first, 10 wins in a row). Adam Radomirovic's Racing slips to 9th (2-8).
(AI generated)