Sixth-ranked Basket Esch edged fourth-ranked Musel Pikes 85-81 after overtime in a game that swung several times and stayed tight until the last minute. Esch also completed the season sweep after its earlier 71-70 away win.
The opening quarter went slightly to Musel. Esch stayed close through Emmanuel Jesus Frederico (Season PPG: 7.10), the 17-year-old 2.00m forward/center, who scored his team's first 8 points. The home side then built its best first-half margin at 42-34 before taking a 42-38 lead into the break.
The game changed sharply after halftime. Musel opened the third quarter with 16 unanswered points, turning 42-38 into 42-54 and taking full control. Jason Hartz (Season PPG: 16.63) was central to that stretch and finished with a game-high 27 points. Luca Monteiro Delgado (Season PPG: 7.13) added 17, while Marko Mustafic (Season PPG: 14.33) scored 14 and Enzo Sanna (Season PPG: 12.38) had 18.
Dejan Pavlovic's team answered in the fourth. Fabien Vandler (Season PPG: 16.08) hit from outside, Luka Stankovic (Season PPG: 11.00) brought calm scoring, and Esch gradually erased the deficit. Stankovic's late three tied the game at 76-76.
In overtime, Noah Kouamedjouo (4 games) gave Esch the lead at 80-78, Stankovic pushed it to 84-81, and Jesus Frederico sealed it at the line. He ended with a season-high 22 points, Stankovic scored 15, Deni Sabotic (Season PPG: 16.42) had 11, and Vandler plus Malik Demirovic (Season PPG: 9.33) added 10 each.
A key late detail: Musel captain Sanna fouled out in overtime, which reduced the visitors' options in the closing possessions.
(AI generated)