AS Soleuvre beat Black Star Mersch 99-86 and moved up two places to 2nd in the Tour montée, while BSM remain 6th. Eric Bettini's team also took the season series 2-1 after losing the first meeting and winning the next two. BSM are now on a two-game losing run.
The game turned early with Soleuvre's 11-4 opening and a strong first quarter from Gilles Weis (Season PPG: 9.83, RPG: 4.43, AssPG: 3.74), who set the tone with 8 quick points. Dean Gindt (Season PPG: 13.36, RPG: 4.00, AssPG: 1.75) kept Mersch in contact almost on his own at first, scoring 10 of the team's first 10 points. Soleuvre led 30-18 before BSM closed the quarter on a 7-0 run to get back to 30-25.
In the second period, Soleuvre again created separation at 35-25, then managed the half well despite BSM's free-throw scoring. At the break it was 57-47. The decisive moment came after halftime: Gindt opened with a three for 57-50, but Soleuvre answered with an 8-0 burst to 65-50 and never gave control back. By the end of the third quarter the lead was 84-64, and it peaked at 25 points, 94-69, early in the fourth.
Soleuvre's edge came from efficiency and ball security: 58.7% on 2-pointers, which is good shooting, and only 5 turnovers. Felix Kloman (Season PPG: 30.17, RPG: 6.41, AssPG: 2.45) and 23-year-old American Christian Parker (Season PPG: 24.75, RPG: 13.13, AssPG: 2.09) shared MVP honors with 35 and 27 points. Parker added a double-double with 17 rebounds. Sandro Sana Sanches Gomes Junior (Season PPG: 10.54, RPG: 5.47, AssPG: 0.68) gave 16 points and 3 assists, while Weis finished with 15.
For Goran Lukic's side, Gindt posted 21 points on good percentages, Vladimir Vukovic (Season PPG: 9.40, RPG: 7.50, AssPG: 1.50) added 16 points and 9 rebounds, and 27-year-old American Desean Hampton (Season PPG: 18.43, RPG: 9.27, AssPG: 2.55) had 12 points and 9 rebounds. Donte Pope (Season PPG: 31.23, RPG: 8.11, AssPG: 4.11) scored 19, but BSM's 14 turnovers and 31.3% from three limited their comeback chances.
(AI generated)