Nitia Bettembourg beat BC Mess 104-96 in the M-Nationale 2 relegation round and moved to 1st place at 7-1 (+1). Mess, despite the loss, climbed to 3rd at 3-5 (+2). Bettembourg is now on a 3-game winning streak, while Mess has lost three in a row.
Coach Bradley Melton's team took control early. After two quick threes by Nicolas Parrish, NIT put together a 9-0 run to go from 8-5 to 17-5 and led 23-13 after the first quarter. The second quarter widened the gap further: Christopher Teck hit all four of his 3-pointers before halftime, and Bettembourg went into the break up 55-36. The lead peaked at 69-46 in the third quarter.
Mess changed the game after the interval. Cobie Logan Barnes (Season PPG: 34.41, RPG: 11.52, AssPG: 2.48) was outstanding and took MVP honors with 57 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists. He was excellent from the line at 11/12 and scored 19 points in the fourth quarter. With Pedrito Kemevuako (Season PPG: 4.59, RPG: 2.09, AssPG: 2.45) adding 16 points and 9 assists, MES cut the deficit to 86-85 after Barnes scored 9 straight points.
Bettembourg answered at the crucial moment. Cameron Brooks-Harris (Season PPG: 24.91, RPG: 12.65, AssPG: 3.59) finished with 29 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists, shooting an excellent 8/9 on 2-pointers, before fouling out late. Parrish (Season PPG: 19.28, RPG: 6.28, AssPG: 5.20) posted 27 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists, close to a triple-double. Teck had an excellent 4/4 from three for 14 points, and El Hadji Modou Thiam Diop added 14.
NIT's balance made the difference: four players scored at least 14, the team had a 38-31 rebounding edge, and its 39% from three was good.
(AI generated)