Racing Luxembourg edged T71 Dudelange 127-116 after two overtimes in a high-scoring, tense finale-phase clash that swung repeatedly. Hristo Stoykov's team started sharper (28-20, Q1) behind Stefan Stoykov and Oskar Berger, though T71 answered early with back-to-back triples by Tunn Wirion to level at 12-12 before Racing rebuilt a 48-42 halftime lead. Tom Schumacher's side flipped the script in the third (16-27) through Daris Honsic and Kevin Fernandes Vaz for 64-69.
T71 pushed the gap to a game-high +11 (78-89) in the fourth as Fernandes Vaz kept drilling from deep, but Racing clawed back. Louis Cocard produced five points in a row in the closing minute (two free throws and a three) to force 96-96 and overtime. In OT1, Racing surged to 105-98, only for Fernandes Vaz to respond with five straight (2+3) and Honsic to tie it (106-106). The second extra period belonged to Racing despite an early unsportsmanlike on Berger: Stoykov poured in eight points, Yair Portal Levav added a key basket and Pete Rajniak buried the late three to close it.
Key players
- Racing: Stefan Stoykov (41; Season PPG: 23.77) matched his season-high and was decisive in OT2. Pete Rajniak (18; 12.65) hit timely shots, Louis Cocard (17; 13.64) delivered the clutch 5-0 burst, and Oskar Berger (20; 12.62) was impactful before fouling out.
- T71: Kevin Fernandes Vaz (34; 15.46) tied his season-high and hit seven threes, Daris Honsic (24; 16.21) carried stretches, Justin Lux (19; 11.31) attacked consistently, Tom Kloos (13; 10.50) added support.
Both teams reached double-digit leads (each +11) and had strings of points in a row at crucial moments. Foul trouble shaped the finish: Racing lost Berger and Sarunas Sulcas, while T71 finished without Lux, Jonas Lies and Jesse Papa Müller; multiple unsportsmanlike fouls punctuated the contest.
With this result, Racing moves to the top of the Phase finale table (rank 1, +3), while T71 sits second (-1). The 17-year-old Bulgarian captain Stoykov spearheaded the home side's late surge; 16-year-old Fernandes Vaz (CPV) kept T71 in it deep into OT.
(AI generated)