Amicale Steesel won 78-70 in Esch and levelled this best-of-3 quarter-final at 1-1, so the series goes to a decisive game 3.
The game was shaped early by Amicale's control of the score. After Basket Esch opened 2-0, the visitors answered quickly and built a 24-18 first-quarter lead. Esch briefly came back to 24-26 in the second period, but Amicale replied with a strong stretch to 37-26 and later 44-30, their highest margin at 14 points. Basket Esch reduced it to 34-44 at halftime.
The home side had its best phase after the break. Clancy Mac Rugg (Season PPG: 19.91, RPG: 9.39, AssPG: 2.89) and Quinten Gregory Dee Nelson (Season PPG: 20.08, RPG: 5.27, AssPG: 3.91) pushed Esch back to 45-48, then to 54-58 late in the third. Early in the fourth, Esch came as close as 60-62. That was the crucial moment: Amicale answered with an 8-0 run to 70-62, with Sean Bugeja and Alex Laurent doing the damage, and Esch never fully recovered.
Amicale shot better under FIBA conditions: 75% on free throws and 61% on 2-pointers, both good marks. Esch finished at 63% from the line, 47% on 2-pointers and 26% from 3.
Rugg was the game MVP with 21 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists, including excellent 6/6 free throws. Jordan Hicks (35, 2.01m, USA) added 12 points on 6/9 from 2-point range. For Amicale, Malcolm Richardson (Season PPG: 16.04, RPG: 7.84, AssPG: 5.06) led with 19 points and 5 assists, Laurent posted 15 points and 14 rebounds, Scott Morton had 12 points and an excellent 5/5 from 2-point range, and Bugeja gave 14 points on excellent shooting: 4/4 FT and 2/4 from three. Ashton Sherrell (Season PPG: 23.04, RPG: 8.81, AssPG: 1.00) added 11 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Coach Daniel Alves Brandao de Sousa got the response Amicale needed after game 1, while Esch under coach Franck Meriguet stayed close for long stretches but could not turn the late momentum.
(AI generated)