Kordall Steelers edged Musel Pikes 108-101 in Niederkorn, a close contest decided by a late surge from coach Antonio José Lopez Peña's team. After a 32-28 first quarter in which Robertas Jonaitis closed with seven straight points (from 25-25 to 32-25), Musel answered in the second: Jason Hartz hit 4/4 from three and Tristin Matthew Walley was perfect at the line to push the visitors ahead 52-46 before Kordall trimmed it to 57-58 at halftime. The third quarter swung back to the hosts (86-83), and at 98-98 in the fourth the game was still in the balance. Kordall then strung together a 10-3 closing run, including four straight free throws by Erik Thomas Timko (KDS), to finish it. The Steelers' largest lead came at 108-100; Musel's peak was +6 in Q2.
Numbers told the story inside: Kordall shot an excellent 72% on 2-pointers (34/47) and a good 81% at the line (25/31), while dominating the glass 40-30 with 14 offensive rebounds. Musel countered with good free throws (83%, 25/30) and good three-point shooting (42%, 8/19), but only 47% on twos.
Foreign unit, Kordall: MVP Jonaitis (Season PPG: 26.00, RPG: 10.62, AssPG: 1.31) powered a 32-point, 12-rebound double-double with 2 blocks; Timko (KDS) added 29 on 10/10 FTs and 5/6 twos; Andre Snoddy (Season PPG: 18.67, RPG: 10.00, AssPG: 1.17) posted 17 and 10; Gianluca Pellegrino Ombroni (Season PPG: 16.33, RPG: 6.45, AssPG: 1.00) had 18. Local core: Luis De Brito Martins chipped in 10.
Foreign unit, Musel: Walley (29, 2.01m, USA) delivered 22 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists (10/10 FTs) before fouling out late; Maurice Gordon (USA) added 9 and also fouled out; Esosa Okundaye scored 13. Home group: Konan Boglin Oth (Season PPG: 12.27, RPG: 6.64, AssPG: 0.86) led with 26 on efficient 2-point scoring; Tom Welter had 10; Hartz hit 12 off the bench on perfect long-range shooting.
In the standings, Kordall climb to 8th, Musel sit 9th. The Steelers halt a two-game slide; Musel suffer a seventh straight defeat. Coach Guy Schmit's side paid for late foul trouble as Walley and Gordon exited in the fourth.
(AI generated)