Black Star Mersch outlasted Avanti Mondorf 114-103 after overtime, clinching it with a dominant 16-5 extra period. The hosts started well: after Hampton's opening triple, Mondorf strung a 7-0 reply and took the first quarter 25-18. The second belonged to Joseph Daniel Reuter (22, USA), who poured in 12 consecutive Mondorf points, including three triples in quick succession, to build the night's biggest home lead at 45-36 before halftime (55-53).
Mersch flipped the script in the third (30-22). With Kevin Sarlette and Dean Gindt connecting from deep and Donte Bezel Pope driving relentlessly, the visitors moved in front 83-77. Mondorf rallied in the fourth through Uzziah Khalil Dawkins and Tim Bartholomey's perimeter bursts to force 98-98 after 40 minutes.
Overtime turned on two straight BSM threes Pope then Gindt for a 6-0 start. Pope later authored a personal 5-0 run (a two and a three) to make it 111-103, while Gindt's late free throws sealed it. Pope (23, USA) delivered a rare triple-double: 46 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists, shooting an excellent 72% on 2s (13/18) and 80% at the line (8/10). He was backed by Gindt (Season PPG: 11.33, RPG: 3.83, AssPG: 0.83), who added 23 with four triples, and Desean Hampton (Season PPG: 20.40, RPG: 9.11, AssPG: 2.89) with 23 on 3/5 from three.
Mondorf's leaders were Reuter (Season PPG: 22.47, RPG: 12.87, AssPG: 2.80) with 39 and 16 boards on 6/10 from three, and Dawkins (Season PPG: 25.80, RPG: 7.20, AssPG: 4.93) with 31 and 10 assists, hitting 10/12 at the line. Tim Bartholomey added 14 on 4/6 from deep but took a technical in Q4 and later fouled out in OT. Sven Bartholomey chipped in 8; Yann Bartholomey scored 11.
Team shooting tilted the balance: Black Star posted good splits across the board (FT 79%, 2P 61%, 3P 41%), while Mondorf were excellent from three (54%) and solid at the line (88%) but only 50% on 2s. Goran Lukic's side also snapped a two-game slide and made it 2-0 in the season series after October's 89-57 home win. Philip David Dejworek's team showed resilience, erasing a six-point deficit after three to force the extra session, but Mersch had the game-winners in OT.
(AI generated)