Black Frogs Schieren edged Black Star Mersch 67-66 in Mersch, completing a regular-season sweep after their 94-79 win in October. In a tight game under FIBA rules, the visitors climbed to 2nd in M-Nationale 2 (ranking gain +3), while BSM stay 3rd.
BSM flew out 8-0 behind Desean Hampton (Season PPG: 20.43) and Donte Bezel Pope (23, USA), and led 19-16 after 10 minutes. Schieren steadied, tied it on Philippe Conte's three early in Q2 and briefly turned momentum with back-to-back triples by Alexandre Pereira Meireles and Khyree Terell Armstead (USA), only for BSM to reach halftime level at 34-34.
An unsportsmanlike foul (U2) on Borian Tymi in Q3 did not derail Schieren; BSM surged to 43-36 but the Frogs replied through Leandro Rodrigues-Machado's three and Eric Anderson (26, 2.00m, USA), and took a 47-45 lead into the last period. The decisive stretch came at 47-47 when Schieren strung together a 10-0 run: Rodrigues-Machado scored five in a row, Nemanja Mladenovic added two, and Armstead kept the offense humming. BSM answered with an 11-3 burst Pope (Season PPG: 33.83) at the line, then Hampton from deep and Kevin Sarlette tied it at 63-63 with a clutch three.
Armstead hit the game's key shot, a triple for 63-66, and though Pope brought BSM back to 65-66, two late fouls in a row by Sarlette allowed Gabriel Solomon to add the final point at 65-67. Pope's last free throw set the final margin.
Top performers
- Black Frogs: Armstead 25 (three fourth-quarter threes), Anderson 14 (Season PPG: 21.14), Pereira Meireles 8, Rodrigues-Machado 8.
- Black Star: Pope 26, Hampton 20, Sarlette 9.
Coach Nigel Tolentino's Frogs are now on a three-game winning streak. Coach Goran Lukic's side saw a three-game run halted. Highest leads: BSM +8 early; FRO +10 at 47-57.
(AI generated)