Racing Luxembourg won a close one at Musel Pikes, 80-76, and moved up to 1st place in the phase finale with a third straight win. Musel, now 4th, stayed in contact throughout, but Racing led after every quarter.
The opening quarter already showed the pattern. Musel went in front 4-3, but Racing answered well. Oskar Berger (Season PPG: 12.73), the 1.82m Slovenian guard, came off the bench and scored 7 straight points late in the period to help RAC turn the score to 18-15. Musel stayed close behind Abram Macalou (Season PPG: 26.67), who was already active from all three scoring levels.
In the second quarter, Macalou kept Musel alive and the home side managed to level at 24-24 and later 26-26. Racing still had the better finish to the half. Sarunas Sulcas (Season PPG: 15.15) and Pete Rajniak (Season PPG: 14.50) gave the visitors a 41-36 lead at the break.
Musel again threatened early in the third, cutting it to 40-41, but Racing answered through Louis Cocard, the 17-year-old 1.89m guard (Season PPG: 13.81), and Stefan Stoykov. RAC restored control and entered the last quarter up 59-51.
The crucial moment came at the start of the fourth. Rajniak scored 6 points in a row and Racing built its biggest lead, 65-51. Majdi Anan's team reacted strongly: Macalou finished with 33 points, Jules Jacquet (Season PPG: 15.31) added 14, and Omar Youssef Essid (Season PPG: 14.73) helped Musel close to 68-70 and then 76-77. Racing still found the key baskets, with Rajniak hitting a big three and Cocard adding the last three-pointer for 80-76.
Racing also got major bench production, especially Rajniak's 26 points and Berger's 9. Sulcas added 13 before fouling out late.
(AI generated)