Nitia Bettembourg beat CFBB U18 83-64 in this M-Nationale 2 relegation round game, and the game evolution was clear from the opening minutes. Coach Bradley Gene Melton's team went to 3-0, saw U18 answer for 3-3, then built control with a 9-1 push to 12-4. Later in the first quarter, NIT closed on a strong 13-0 run from 15-9 to 28-9. That opening period created the whole frame of the evening, and the lead was already 50-28 at half-time.
CFBB U18 reacted better after the break. The visitors opened the third quarter with six straight points to cut the margin to 50-34, and they were more competitive from there. Abram Macalou (Season PPG: 11.88, RPG: 3.83, AssPG: 2.00) had 9 points, Jules Reuter (Season PPG: 6.50, RPG: 4.07, AssPG: 0.87) added 10, and Elvio Amen Alissoutin (Season PPG: 2.36, RPG: 1.38, AssPG: 0.38) finished with 10 points on excellent 2/2 shooting from three-point range. Sarunas Sulcas also gave U18 useful volume with 7 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists.
Bettembourg still answered every comeback attempt. Cameron Brooks-Harris (Season PPG: 24.50, RPG: 11.93, AssPG: 2.93) was the clear MVP with 34 points, 18 rebounds, 7 steals and 6 blocks, plus excellent 10/10 shooting on 2-pointers. El Hadji Modou Thiam Diop (Season PPG: 9.07, RPG: 7.83, AssPG: 1.68) added 23 points and 10 rebounds with excellent 10/12 from two. Nicolas Parrish (Season PPG: 18.82, RPG: 6.26, AssPG: 5.00) scored only 8, but his 11 assists gave structure to NIT's offense.
NIT shot a good 65% from 2-point range and dominated the rebound battle 53-35, while its highest lead reached 32 points at 81-49. After losing the first two meetings of the season against U18, Bettembourg turned this one around clearly. NIT also had two professional players available, while U18 had none, which mattered in a game with this physical and individual gap.
(AI generated)