Avanti Mondorf took a significant 92-82 road win at Black Star Mersch in the Tour montée and climbed to 3rd place. Black Star are now 5th. The head-to-head in this season is level at 2-2 after Mersch won the first two meetings and Mondorf the last two.
The game turned quickly. BSM led 6-2, but Mondorf replied with a 12-0 run and carried a clear 32-23 advantage out of the first quarter. Black Star improved in the second period, mainly through Donte Bezel Pope (24, USA, Season PPG: 31.36), yet Mondorf stayed in front and led 48-40 at the break.
A key moment came early in the third quarter. Goran Lukic's team cut the gap to 44-48, but Uzziah Khalil Dawkins (Season PPG: 27.87) immediately settled Mondorf with free throws and repeated finishes. From there, Philip David Dejworek's side rebuilt separation, went up 70-58 after three quarters, and later reached its highest lead at 80-62.
Black Star kept scoring and won the last quarter 24-22, but the earlier damage was too large. Pope finished with 31 points, Dean Gindt (35, 2.01m, Season PPG: 14.15) added 17, Desean Hampton (Season PPG: 17.86) had 15, and Norman Kloss (Season PPG: 4.00) contributed 10.
Mondorf had the stronger leading pair. Dawkins poured in 34 points and was on a roll from the opening quarter, while Joseph Daniel Reuter (Season PPG: 23.47) added 24. Yann Bartholomey (Season PPG: 5.32) reached 14 points, matching his season high, with Foni Mertens (Season PPG: 7.07) scoring 11 and Tim Bartholomey (Season PPG: 6.41) 9.
(AI generated)