Black Star Mersch controlled a friendly in Mersch, beating Heidelberg 90-72 after a dominant start. BSM jumped to 9-2 and closed the first quarter 31-17 behind Desean Hampton (BSM) and Kurt James (BSM). A 6-0 burst to open the second (37-17) set the tone, with Norman Kloss (23, 1.86m, DEU) hitting from deep and Kevin Sarlette adding inside points. Halftime read 59-41.
Heidelberg leaned on perimeter shot-making to stay afloat. Max (HEI) poured in 27, including six triples, and sparked the best visiting phase in the third with back-to-back long-range connections, but Felix Urwald (BSM) answered repeatedly; BSM carried an 80-57 lead into the fourth. The hosts' largest gap reached +26 (86-60) before Heidelberg closed on a 6-0 run.
BSM's scoring map was heavy inside: 34 two-pointers (68 pts). James led with 25 (10 2PT, 5 FT), Hampton added 22 (9 2PT, 1 3PT), and Urwald 21 (7 2PT, 1 3PT, 4 FT). Secondary help came from Nils Bosdijk (19, 1.92m, NLD) with 6 and Kloss with two threes. For Heidelberg, behind Max's 27, Chris (HEI) had 13 and Jakob (HEI) 12; Jonas (HEI) and Johannes (HEI) combined for four threes.
Notable sequences: Hampton scored twice in a row during the first-quarter breakaway and later picked up two personal fouls in quick succession in Q3; Paulo Dos Reis Fernandes committed two straight fouls in Q4. Coaches Rainer Kloss and Jochen Gossmann traded early time-outs as momentum swung, but BSM's first-half surge decided it.
(AI generated)