AS Soleuvre won 90-72 at home against Nitia Bettembourg in a game that stayed open for a long time before breaking in the second half.
Bradley Melton's Bettembourg started well and led 14-7, mainly through Cameron Brooks-Harris (Season PPG: 24.50, RPG: 11.25, AssPG: 2.92) and Nicolas Parrish (Season PPG: 18.82, RPG: 6.24, AssPG: 4.67). Soleuvre answered with a 16-4 run to move in front 23-18, but Brooks-Harris hit back-to-back threes late in the first quarter and NIT still edged it 24-23.
The second quarter was tighter. Cyprien Brochot-Carric (Season PPG: 4.33, RPG: 2.00, AssPG: 0.11) gave Soleuvre a lift, and Eric Bettini's team slowly built a 43-36 halftime lead. Bettembourg stayed close because El Hadji Modou Thiam Diop (Season PPG: 9.07, RPG: 7.72, AssPG: 1.72) was very efficient inside, finishing 8/10 from two, an excellent 80%.
NIT came back to 48-48 early in the third, which was the key moment of the game. Then Felix Whitcomb Kloman (Season PPG: 30.29, RPG: 6.46, AssPG: 2.42) took over. The 24-year-old American guard scored 16 points in the quarter and drove Soleuvre's 18-8 response to 66-56. His final line was 38 points with good free-throw shooting (8/10) and excellent three-point shooting (4/7).
From there Soleuvre controlled the fourth quarter and reached their highest lead at 88-65. Bettembourg answered with 7 straight points before Sandro Sana Sanches Gomes Junior (Season PPG: 10.32, RPG: 5.18, AssPG: 0.64) closed the scoring.
Christian Parker (Season PPG: 25.08, RPG: 13.00, AssPG: 2.00) was named MVP with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks. Soleuvre shot an excellent 52% from three (11/21) and a good 75% at the line. Bettembourg shot a good 59% on twos, but their 3/8 free throws and 5/21 from deep limited them.
(AI generated)