Thijs De Ridder put together his sharpest night in an NCAA uniform, posting 24 points, 9 rebounds and a flawless 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in Virginia's 89–60 win over Drexel. He shot 9 of 15 from the field and 2 of 4 from three, with zero turnovers across 27 minutes.
For a Belgian navigating Division I college basketball, a game of that efficiency — especially the ball security and rebounding work — signals real progress in his development at that level.
Mitch Clarke finished on 13 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists with a clean sheet in turnovers across 27 minutes as Newcastle Eagles dismantled Cheshire Phoenix 89–61 away from home.
The Eagles' forward shot 4 of 11 from the field but made 3 of 9 three-pointers and both his free throws, contributing a composed display in a dominant 28-point victory. Zero turnovers across nearly half an hour of play underlined his decision-making — a precision that complemented Newcastle's suffocating defence in what became a one-sided affair.
The margin tells the story. This was not a game; it was a statement. Newcastle move forward with that kind of rhythm intact.
Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen took control of the second half and never looked back, dismantling AB InBev Leuven Bears 91–68 in a one-sided BNXT League win that ended a three-game losing run. The first quarter was level at 25–25, but Mechelen's suffocating defence in the second pushed them ahead 48–36 by half-time—a 12-point swing on the back of a 23–11 quarter.
The real damage came after the break. A devastating 9–0 run midway through the third quarter turned a tight contest into a blowout, stretching Mechelen's lead to 20 points (68–48) heading into the final frame. By 3:47 in the fourth, Mechelen had ballooned their advantage to 28 points—57–85—a gulf that made the finish a formality.
Max Klesmit was the architect of Mechelen's assault, dropping 22 points on 8/10 shooting with a scorching 3/4 from three. Leander Dedroog added 14 on efficient 5/7 work, while Jalen Hampton chipped in 12 points and 7 rebounds. For Leuven, Sebastian Thomas led with 19 points and perfect free-throw shooting (8/8), but his 5/16 overall and 1/8 from deep told the larger story: the Bears simply could not keep pace.
Leuven drop to 3–4 and have now lost three straight. Mechelen improve to 3–4 and will host ZZ Leiden on Saturday, while Leuven travel to CityX Mons the same day.
Newcastle Eagles dismantled Cheshire Phoenix 89–61 in a wire-to-wire rout that left little doubt from the opening tip. The Eagles led by 17 after the first quarter alone and never looked back, stretching the margin to 26 by the end of the third.
A 13–0 run mid-way through the first quarter set the tone. Phoenix fought back to within 19 at half-time (24–43), but Newcastle's defence tightened considerably thereafter. The Eagles won the third quarter 25–18 and, despite a quieter final period, had the game settled long before the buzzer. A 33–point lead with under four minutes remaining reflected the gulf in class on the evening.
Blondeau Tchoukuiegno led Newcastle with 17 PTS on efficient 6/12 shooting, whilst Mitch Clarke added 13 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST and Tavis Smith contributed 13 PTS, 6 AST from the playmaking role. For Phoenix, Jordan Hinds carried the offensive load with 23 PTS on 9/21 shooting, but found little support; Ryker Cisarik grabbed 14 rebounds but managed just 2/11 from the floor.
The result moves Newcastle to 7–4 in the Super League. Phoenix, now 4–6, face a trip to Bristol Flyers on Friday 20 November, whilst the Eagles host Leicester Riders the same evening.
Shawn Mousseau picked up the heavy lifting on the glass as St.-Truidense held off Gent-Oost Eagles 75–66 on the road in Group A play. The forward finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds across 26 minutes — a clean, workmanlike performance that tipped the balance where it mattered most.
St.-Truidense's nine-point margin was built on control of the glass and measured efficiency rather than offensive fireworks. Mousseau connected on five of ten from the field (1/2 from three) and managed it all without a free-throw attempt, letting his rebounding do the talking. He turned the ball over just once and picked up two steals in a game where pace and discipline showed.
The win keeps St.-Truidense competitive in the group stage. Next up is the fixture that will tell you more about where both sides truly stand.
Patrick Robinson steered Liverpool Basketball past B. Braun Sheffield Sharks with 21 points across 31 minutes, converting 8 of 11 free throws in a 81–68 home victory. The 13-point margin proved decisive enough, though Robinson's shooting from the field—6 of 18—reflected a contest where Liverpool had to grind rather than flow; his three-point range yielded just one make from six attempts.
What lifted him above the noise was his efficiency at the line and his willingness to probe the offence when outside shots weren't falling. Four rebounds and three assists kept the ball moving when Sheffield threatened to settle into a rhythm, and the single turnover in 31 minutes suggested a measured hand on the controls.
Liverpool move on to face their next Super League challenge, while Robinson's steadiness—imperfect but effective—remains the template for winning without your best looks dropping.
Bernard Pelote made the trip to Glasgow count, finishing with 26 points on 8-of-14 shooting as Leicester Riders held off Caledonia Gladiators 91–80 on the road.
The Leicester forward was clinical from range, converting 3 of 7 attempts from three, and immaculate at the free-throw line, where he went 7 for 8. An 11-point margin flattered the visitors' control of the game — Pelote's scoring formed the backbone of their attacking threat across his 29 minutes on court, though he kept his role narrow: four rebounds and two assists reflected a night focused on putting the ball through the basket rather than facilitating.
Leicester's win keeps their Super League campaign on track. Pelote's next opportunity comes in their fixture against their next opponent.
Liverpool Basketball moved to 5-4 with a composed second-half display, outscoring B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 25-11 in the fourth quarter to secure a 13-point win.
The opening half was fractured — back-and-forth throughout, with 10 lead changes and 9 ties. Liverpool won the first quarter 19-14, but Sheffield clawed back to take the second 24-18, leaving the sides level at half-time, 37-38. The third quarter followed the same attritional pattern, neither team able to build momentum, and Sheffield held a single-point advantage at 56-57 moving into the final quarter.
Liverpool's fourth-quarter control proved decisive. A 10-0 run mid-quarter shifted the scoreline from 66-64 to 76-64, and although Sheffield managed occasional possessions thereafter, Liverpool extended their lead to 15 with 45 seconds remaining. The Sharks never threatened a comeback.
Patrick Robinson led Liverpool with 21 points on 6-18 shooting (8-11 from the line), whilst Tevin Smith proved efficient off the bench with 10 points from 2-3 overall and 2-2 from distance. For Sheffield, Lu'cye Patterson and Adrian Delph managed 15 and 14 points respectively, but neither could sustain enough scoring pressure in the fourth.
Liverpool host Leicester Riders on Sunday, 22 November, in a fixture that could see them push further clear.
Davion Bailey steered Bristol Flyers to a two-point road win over Manchester Basketball with a composed 31-minute display: 24 points, 5 assists and 3 steals on 8/17 shooting, including 4/10 from distance.
The margin was slim enough that Bailey's decision-making mattered. He turned the ball over three times but also ran the offence efficiently when it counted, converting all four free throws in the closing stages as Bristol held Manchester at 84. It was the kind of performance — efficient rather than explosive, lead-by-example rather than isolation-heavy — that wins tight Super League fixtures away from home.
Bristol travel again next. Manchester, for their part, will have few complaints about the effort but will know they left this one on the court.
Leicester Riders emerged from a back-and-forth contest with an 11-point win over Caledonia Gladiators, 91–80, though the margin masked a game that stayed competitive until the closing stages. The Riders built their foundation early, winning the first quarter by a single point before a devastating second-quarter display extended their lead to 12 at the break — a decisive 25-point haul in that period, including an 8-0 run mid-quarter that shifted momentum decisively their way.
Caledonia fought back in the third, taking that quarter by two and trimming Leicester's lead to 10 by the end of three quarters. But the Riders' depth proved sufficient. Leicester held serve in the fourth, outscoring Gladiators by a single point to seal it. The result improves Leicester to 2–7 in the league; Caledonia slip to 3–5 and have now lost three straight.
Bernard Pelote led Leicester with 26 points on efficient shooting — 8 of 14 from the field, 7 of 8 from the line — while Deante Johnson Jr. contributed a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds. For Caledonia, Christian Keeling's 14 points on 6 of 10 shooting provided the bright spot, though it wasn't enough. Matthew Zona added 13 points and 10 rebounds (double-double).
Caledonia host Surrey 89ers on Thursday 19 November, while Leicester travel to Newcastle Eagles on Friday 20 November.
BBC Croonen Lommel dismantled Neufchâteau 87–54, a 33-point blowout that left no doubt about the gap between these two sides at De Soeverein. Lommel won every quarter and stretched the lead to 21 by half-time (48–32), then suffocated their opponents from the third quarter onward.
The decisive blow came midway through the fourth, when Lommel ripped off a 13-0 run to push the score from 67–48 to 80–48. By the final minutes, the margin had swollen to 35 points with 3:53 remaining — a complete breakdown of Neufchâteau's resistance. The visitors managed only eight points in the fourth quarter against Lommel's 20.
Toon Ceyssens led the way with 20 points on efficient 7/12 shooting, adding six rebounds and two steals. Bram Schelkens contributed 13 points and five assists, while Matthias Bovy added 12 points and solid playmaking. For Neufchâteau, Samuel Schadeck's 15 points and eight rebounds gave them their only real anchor, and Hugo Deneve chipped in 12, but the collective effort proved overmatched.
Lommel improve to 5–4 in the regular season; Neufchâteau drop to 2–7. Lommel host Windrose Giants Antwerp B on Saturday 21 Nov, while Neufchâteau travel to BBC Falco Gent the same day.
Belgium Women NT pulled away late to earn a hard-fought 81–74 win over Sweden Women NT in Group H, moving to 3–1 in the qualifiers while Sweden Women NT remain winless at 0–4.
The first half belonged to Sweden Women NT. They won the opening quarter 23–22, then dominated the second to lead 47–39 at the break, their 13-point margin coming late in that second quarter. But our Cats clawed back in the third, outscoring Sweden Women NT 18–14 to trail by just 4 heading into the final period at 61–57.
The fourth quarter became a statement. Belgium Women NT won it 24–13, a decisive stretch that built their lead to 7. Sweden Women NT could not find an answer down the stretch — it stayed one possession for the final two minutes, but our Cats held firm.
Emma Meesseman was dominant: 27 points on 11/17 shooting, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks (double-double). Kyara Linskens added 14 points and 7 rebounds; Becky Massey chipped in 10 points and 3 assists. Klara Holm led Sweden Women NT with 28 points on a hot 11/16 from the field, plus 9 rebounds and 5 assists, but it was not enough.
Our Cats visit Finland Women NT on Thursday 11 Feb.
Jens Bouckaert finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists in 30 minutes, but it was not enough to prevent Basics Melsele-Beveren from falling 81–86 at home to BC Guco Lier on the road.
The forward was efficient from the line, converting 5 of 6 free throws, though his shooting from the floor remained uneven—5 for 10 overall, 1 for 4 from three. He added 2 steals and kept his turnovers to 2 across half an hour of work. In a five-point defeat, Bouckaert's double-double was the brighter spot in an otherwise frustrating night for Basics.
The loss leaves Basics searching for answers as the regular season grinds on.
Aleksandre Merkviladze made Rotterdam City Basketball pay for every defensive lapse, dropping 30 points on 10-for-14 shooting to lift Donar Groningen to an 83–70 road win in the BNXT League.
The Donar forward was ruthless with space. He made 3 of 5 three-pointers and 7 of 8 free throws—the kind of efficiency that turns a competition into a rout. Merkviladze added 6 rebounds and 2 steals across 33 minutes, holding the ball with care: just 1 turnover against 1 assist, a quiet, focused performance that didn't need volume to hurt.
Rotterdam City kept pace early but had no answer for Merkviladze in transition or when Donar spaced the floor. A 13-point margin by the finish tells the real story—some nights a single player's consistency is enough to separate the two sides.
Nelson Haskin steered Landstede Hammers Zwolle to a 88–84 home win over Hubo Limburg United with a composed all-around display: 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists in 34 minutes.
The four-point margin turned on ball movement and spacing. Haskin's 3-of-4 three-point shooting opened lanes for cutters and kickouts, while his eight assists suggested a player content to run the offense rather than hunt shots. He did not force matters — just one turnover across the full game — and his 4-of-7 free-throw line work completed a steady, efficient night.
Hubo Limburg United stayed within arm's reach throughout, but Landstede's poise down the stretch proved decisive. Haskin's steadiness in that final quarter may prove crucial as both clubs push deeper into the regular season.
Basket Sijsele held off KBGO FinexaBasket@Sea 82–76 in Group B play, extending their winning streak to eight and moving to 8–1 in the Top Division. The visitors controlled most of the night but never managed to break clear in the final quarter, as the home side clawed back enough to threaten late.
Sijsele's opening was the difference. They won the first quarter 23–17, then built their cushion to 10 by half-time (52–42) after another four-point second quarter. A 14-0 run mid-first — taking the score from 7–9 to 7–23 — proved decisive; Sijsele led by as many as 16 with 2:37 left in that opening frame. KBGO FinexaBasket@Sea rallied in the third, outscoring them 18–16 to cut the gap to eight heading into the fourth, and kept it tight down the stretch. But Sijsele's four-point win of the fourth was enough; the margin held at six with two minutes to play and stayed there.
J'Nathan Bullock dominated for the winners, posting 33 points on 12–17 shooting with a team-high 22 rebounds and 5 assists. Kenneth De Vos added 13 points and 5 boards. For KBGO FinexaBasket@Sea (now 4–5), Nattan Heirman shot well — 19 points on 6–7 twos and 4–5 from three — but it was not enough to overtake a side that had too many answers.
Basket Sijsele host KBBC Oostkamp on Saturday 21 November. KBGO FinexaBasket@Sea visit BC Guco Lier B the same day.
