Second-ranked Racing Luxembourg controlled most of this M-U22 qualifications game at Sparta Bertrange and won 89-64, completing a 2-0 season sweep after the 101-84 first meeting. Racing is now on two straight wins after a three-game losing run, while Sparta stays 9th.
Racing established the game early. Angelo Caruso (Season PPG: 20.20) and Leo Backes (Season PPG: 8.40) opened the scoring, and the visitors moved from 3-4 to 13-6 before closing the first quarter ahead 25-14. Sparta relied mainly on Tom Germeaux (Season PPG: 19.44), who kept attacking inside and from the line.
Sparta had its best stretch in the second quarter. After consecutive Racing threes from Yair Portal Levav and Aleksandar Babic pushed the score to 31-16, the home side answered through Germeaux and Davide Aquaro (22, 1.81m), cutting the deficit to 33-41. That was Sparta's closest approach after the opening minutes, but Racing still reached halftime with a solid 47-36 lead.
The third quarter gave Racing full control again. Backes hit from deep straight after the break, Caruso followed with another three, and the gap went back to 53-39. Later, Racing extended again to 63-47 and entered the last period up 68-51.
The decisive moment came early in the fourth. Racing produced a 10-2 run, from 68-51 to 78-53, which effectively settled the game and matched the highest lead. Racing's offensive balance stood out: Igor Durovic (Season PPG: 14.20), Caruso and Backes all scored 19 points, while Babic added 8. For Sparta, Germeaux finished with 24 points, Aquaro scored 13, and Ata Tastekin (Season PPG: 9.88) added 12.
(AI generated)