Nitia Bettembourg controlled the first half, but Rebound Préizerdaul changed the rhythm after the break and won 73-58. In the phase-finale table, NIT is now 2nd (+2) and PRE 3rd (+2).
Coach Qassim Sahraoui's team started well after an early 0-4, closing the first quarter with a 10-3 push for 21-13. NIT kept that grip in the second period and reached halftime ahead 37-25, with its biggest margin at 12 points. The hosts had good balance through 13-year-old French scorer Ewen Leung (Season PPG: 19.78), captain Dinis Cruz Rica (Season PPG: 11.36) and Mathis Brochier (Season PPG: 9.36).
The game turned in the third quarter. PRE produced a 15-2 run from 37-25 to 40-39 and completely reopened the contest. Captain Elmir Pjevic (Season PPG: 28.00) was the main engine of that comeback, scoring again and again in the paint and from the line. NIT briefly answered to 51-48, but PRE finished the quarter on a 4-0 sequence to move in front 52-51.
From there, Coach Jérôme Lefevre's side stayed on the roll. PRE opened the last quarter with a 17-3 stretch, moving from 52-51 to 69-54 and taking full control. The visitors won the fourth period 21-7 and their highest lead reached 15 at the end.
Pjevic finished with 25 points despite four fouls, while Hanan Ahmic (Season PPG: 12.27) added 18 and Nathan Varela (PRE) brought 7. For NIT, Leung scored 16, Cruz Rica 12 and Brochier 10. PRE also ended a five-game losing streak with this away win.
(AI generated)