Black Lions won 78-65 at Hamm after controlling most of the game. Spuerkeess started slightly better at 4-2, but the visitors quickly changed the rhythm with a 10-0 run, driven by Angelo Barnellini (BLD) and Denis Wirtz (BLD), and that first break gave them a 23-14 lead after one quarter.
Tom Schroeder's team kept the initiative in the second period. Tom Schumacher (BLD) and Nils Schroeder (BLD) carried much of the scoring, while Barnellini added more damage from long range. The gap grew from 27-16 to 43-28, and Black Lions reached halftime in front 48-35. Spuerkeess stayed in touch through Pitt Koster (CEE), Chris Dentzer (CEE) and Pierre Hoffmann (CEE), but their rallies were short.
The third quarter brought one of the key moments. CEE reduced the deficit to 41-50, yet Black Lions answered again and pushed the margin to its highest point at +17, 64-47, before the last period.
Pit Rodenbourg's side made its best push early in the fourth. Patrick Weis (CEE), Thierry Abdiu (CEE), Koster and Dentzer combined for a 7-0 run from 52-64 to 59-64, turning it into a close game. Black Lions reacted calmly: Luc Reuter scored, then Schumacher, Olivier Summer and Wirtz lifted the score to 71-61 and restored control.
Schumacher led all scorers with 23 points. Wirtz added 17, Schroeder 15 and Barnellini 14, including four 3-pointers, as Black Lions placed four players in double figures. For Spuerkeess, Koster finished with 20 points, Weis scored 14 and Dentzer added 13.
(AI generated)
Spuerkeess