Avanti Mondorf took a close M-Nationale 2 game at Nitia Bettembourg, 95-89, by owning the key stretches after halftime.
Mondorf started well, going up 5-0 and later 21-16 with Sven Bartholomey and Joseph Daniel Reuter setting the tone. Bettembourg answered through Cameron Brooks-Harris and 1.75m USA guard/forward Nicolas Parrish, and the first quarter stayed tight at 27-25 for MON.
Coach Bradley Melton's team found its best rhythm in the second period. Parrish scored in waves, Bettembourg turned a 31-30 deficit into a 46-40 lead, and that six-point margin was NIT's highest of the night. They went into the break ahead 46-41.
The turning point came in the third quarter. After NIT still led 54-45, Mondorf exploded with a 19-2 run to 64-56. Reuter and Uzziah Dawkins were at the heart of that swing, and MON won the quarter 30-21.
Bettembourg still came back. Early in the fourth, Brooks-Harris tied it at 71-71, and NIT later moved in front 79-77. But coach Philip Dejworek's side answered immediately with 10 straight points to build an 87-79 advantage, the decisive run in a close finish.
Parrish (Season PPG: 18.82, RPG: 6.17, AssPG: 4.94) was the game MVP with 38 points and 7 assists, plus excellent 2-point shooting at 9/12. Brooks-Harris (Season PPG: 24.50, RPG: 12.33, AssPG: 3.44) added 22 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Lobe Lobas (Season PPG: 9.64, RPG: 12.68, AssPG: 3.00) posted 14 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out.
For Mondorf, Reuter (Season PPG: 23.16, RPG: 11.79, AssPG: 3.25) delivered 32 points with excellent 13/16 on 2-pointers. Dawkins (Season PPG: 26.80, RPG: 6.89, AssPG: 5.21) had 33 points and 7 assists, while Bartholomey added 16 points. Both teams were excellent from 2-point range: MON 27/38 (71%) and NIT 24/33 (73%).
(AI generated)