Etzella Ettelbruck edged AB Contern 80-74 in this M-Coupe Minis 1/16 final and move on after a game with clear momentum swings.
Coach Jan Piechocki's Contern started well, going 7-2 ahead and taking the first quarter 21-20, mainly through David Lopes Meysembourg (CON) and captain Felix Zoller (CON). In the second period, Ettelbruck reacted with an 11-0 run from 20-21 to 31-21. Coach Eddy Delgado Ferreira's side looked in control there, but Contern answered with a strong 14-3 stretch to climb back in front at 35-34. The home team still held a narrow 39-38 lead at halftime.
The decisive passage came in the third quarter. Ettelbruck won it 31-13 and changed the whole game. After Contern had made it 41-38, ETZ progressively took over, and a powerful 16-4 surge late in the quarter turned 46-53 into 50-69. Early in the fourth, the visitors reached their highest lead at 71-52.
Contern still pushed back. Zoller and Lopes Meysembourg led the chase, and the home side reduced the gap to 80-72 and then 80-74, but Ettelbruck's cushion from the third quarter was enough.
Lenn Dos Santos (ETZ) was the key figure with 31 points, repeatedly finishing inside before fouling out late. Lenny Weber added 19 points and Erol Ajdinovic 17. For Contern, Lopes Meysembourg scored 28 and Zoller 24 in a strong two-man offensive effort, while Pierre Levaldaur added 8. Ettelbruck advance to the next round, while Contern are eliminated.
(AI generated)