Black Star Mersch won 104-87 on the floor of second-ranked US Heffingen and stayed 6th in the Tour montée table, while Heffingen remained 2nd. It was also BSM's second straight win after a four-game losing streak, whereas HEF have now dropped three in a row.
The game started with BSM in control. Donte Bezel Pope (Season PPG: 31.50, RPG: 8.73, AssPG: 4.18) and Dean Gindt (Season PPG: 13.94, RPG: 4.5, AssPG: 1.7) pushed the visitors to 28-16 after one quarter, and the lead reached 32-16 early in the second, the biggest gap of the night.
Heffingen reacted very well. Thomas Quarry (Season PPG: 27.43, RPG: 8.03, AssPG: 2.6), Jacob Kumal Washington (Season PPG: 19.33, RPG: 10.25, AssPG: 2.25) and Jordan Rodrigo Carreira Kreps (Season PPG: 8.92, RPG: 5.48, AssPG: 3.04) led a strong rally, turning that 16-point deficit into a 38-36 edge before halftime ended level at 45-45.
The third quarter stayed balanced until BSM created separation again. From 53-53, Mersch closed the period on a 15-7 stretch for a 68-60 lead. Gindt hit from outside and Pope kept finishing inside.
HEF still came back to 78-78 in the fourth, but that was the last turning point. From there, BSM finished on a decisive 26-9 run. Pope was on a roll in that closing stretch and scored 16 of his 38 points in the last quarter.
BSM's edge came from efficiency and control: 56% on 2-pointers, 44-35 on rebounds and only 14 turnovers against HEF's 19. Pope, a 24-year-old USA forward, delivered 38 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists and 13 fouls drawn, earning MVP. Desean Hampton (Season PPG: 18.04, RPG: 10.08, AssPG: 2.62) added 19 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks, while Gindt scored 23.
For HEF, Washington had 23 points and 12 rebounds, Quarry 22 points and 8 rebounds on an excellent 6/6 at the line, and Carreira Kreps posted 18 points with an excellent 5/7 on 2-pointers.
(AI generated)