This Is Basketball

Kyrylo Meshcheriakov's 23 points on 6-of-9 shooting carried Hasselt BT past Andenne, 76–67, in a Group A matchup that swung on precision rather than volume. The Hasselt forward was efficient across the board: he went 2-for-3 from three and a near-perfect 9-for-10 from the line. Seven rebounds and a clean sheet on turnovers (0 TO in 31 minutes) meant he stayed on task without forcing. Andenne kept it close enough that a nine-point margin never felt insurmountable until the final stretch, but Meshcheriakov's steady scoring — and the lack of waste — gave Hasselt control when it mattered. Andenne will look to regroup; Hasselt can build on this at home.

Pierrick Van Den Brule posted a perfect night from the field for BC Sprimont, finishing with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists across 20 minutes — all on 5-of-5 shooting and a clean slate: zero turnovers, zero fouls. The Belgian club dismantled BC Guco Lier B at home, 108–70, a 38-point margin that left no room for doubt in Group B play. Van Den Brule's efficiency — 7 of 10 from the line, zero mistakes in a limited stint — underscored Sprimont's control. In a blowout like this, individual performances can blur into the scoreline, but his shooting accuracy and ball movement stand out in a game where the result was settled early and often. Sprimont moves on with a decisive home victory. Lier B will look to regroup as the group stage continues.

Sasha Vezenkov finished with 25 points, 6 rebounds and an immaculate 10-for-10 from the free-throw line in 31 minutes as Olympiacos Piraeus stole a 105–100 road win over Barcelona in the EuroLeague regular season. The Bulgarian forward's shooting was the difference. He went 7-for-9 from the floor overall, including 1-for-2 from three, but it was his composure at the line that sealed it—ten consecutive makes when the game was tightest. He did not commit a single turnover or foul, a rarity at this level and a mark of controlled, efficient play. Barcelona fought to the end but could not find the answer once Vezenkov got hot. The five-point margin was tight, but Olympiacos' visiting discipline and Vezenkov's precision execution made the difference in a game that turned on execution in the final stretches.

Marcus Carr finished as Virtus Vidivici Bologna's engine in an 86–78 win over Baskonia, posting 20 points, 3 assists and 2 steals across 22 minutes. He shot 5 of 10 from the field, 2 of 4 from three, and was most reliable from the line: 8 of 10 free throws. The eight-point margin reflected a controlled performance at home. Carr's efficiency — 80 percent from the stripe, decisive movement into the paint — kept Virtus Vidivici Bologna ahead when Baskonia pressed. He turned the ball over twice and picked up four fouls, the kind of minor friction that happens in a tight defensive battle, but his scoring rhythm never broke. Not a stat-sheet explosion, but the kind of composed outing that wins regular-season games in Europe's top competition.

Isiah Small's dominance on the glass proved the difference as Caledonia Gladiators edged out B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 87–79 at home. The forward pulled down 17 rebounds across 30 minutes—a commanding display of positioning and effort that repeatedly gave Caledonia second chances when their shots weren't falling cleanly. Small shot just 3 of 11 from the field, but made it count where it mattered most, converting 9 of 10 free throws for 15 points. He added 3 steals and 3 assists to a performance that tilted the balance when the scoring was contested. Sheffield kept things tight throughout, but Caledonia's control of the glass—particularly through Small—meant they could absorb a poor shooting night (off the 2PT, at least) and still pull away by eight. With both teams fighting for positioning in the Super League table, this was the kind of grinding win that matters: not pretty, but built on the dirty work.

Aubin Gateretse made the most of his 29 minutes on the floor: 17 points, 9 rebounds, 8-for-11 shooting and clean efficiency. He was largely unstoppable in the paint, asking little of the free-throw line and forcing no turnovers to spoil the afternoon. Hubo Limburg United held off Rotterdam City Basketball 87–80 at home, a seven-point margin that reflected the tightness of the contest more than a blowout. Gateretse's rebounding work and interior presence were central to that result — on a night when both sides looked to grind, his output in the mid-range and at the rim kept the home side ahead. Next up for Hubo Limburg United: a road test awaits.

⭐ Player of the Game: Luke Nelson — 13 PTS, 5 REB, 8 AST, 1 STL. Manchester Basketball take it, 81–78.

Sylvain Francisco finished with 22 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists in 27 minutes, shooting 8 of 13 from the field and 4 of 5 from the free-throw line. It was a clean, efficient night — the kind performance that ordinarily carries weight in a tight contest. Panathinaikos lost 81–91 at home, though, undone by a 10-point margin that Francisco's individual excellence could not bridge. He made 2 of 5 three-pointers and committed only 3 turnovers against 2 fouls, the mechanics of his game in order. Hapoel Tel Aviv's depth, or Panathinaikos' supporting cast in this outing, proved the larger factor. The loss puts the home side in a familiar position: one scorer playing at or near his ceiling, and the rest of the roster unable to match the opposition's collective output. Francisco did his job. The team did not.

Eric Boone Jr. carried Brussels Basketball to a 17-point home win over Coretec Oostende with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals across 28 minutes, the standout display in an 81–64 victory that never hung in doubt. Boone's efficiency defined the afternoon. He moved the ball (4 assists) while limiting mistakes relative to his usage, and his four steals underscored the defensive intensity Brussels imposed. At 7-of-13 from the floor and 1-of-6 from three, he mixed inside scoring with occasional perimeter attempts—a balanced offensive diet that kept Oostende's defense honest. The margin tells the story: Brussels built separation early and never allowed Oostende a foothold. Boone's performance fit that script exactly—steady, intelligent, and enough to steer a game that became somewhat lopsided as the second half unfolded.

Chima Moneke a signé l'une des soirées les plus efficaces de la saison en EuroLeague : 23 points en seulement 20 minutes, avec un 6/7 au tir (dont 2/2 à trois points) et un parfait 9/9 aux lancers francs. Zéro perte de balle, une feuille de route de sniper. Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade s'impose à domicile face à Paris Basketball 90–81, une victoire de neuf points où la précision offensive de Moneke a cruellement fait la différence. Quand un joueur ne rate rien en si peu de temps, c'est qu'il a trouvé exactement ce qu'il cherchait : chaque possession, une fin de possession correcte. Les Serbes conservent une armada redoutable à l'est de l'Europe. Paris devra corriger son tir pour la suite.

Hasselt BT edged out Andenne 76–67 after overtime in a back-and-forth affair that needed an extra period to settle. The Group A matchup swung 12 times and saw both sides trade the lead repeatedly, but Hasselt's superior depth in the fourth quarter and decisive 12–3 run in overtime proved the difference on the night. Andenne held a one-point edge at the half (32–31) and remained ahead after three quarters (46–45), but Hasselt found their rhythm when it mattered most. A 7–0 fourth-quarter run midway through the period shifted momentum decisively, and when regulation ended level at 64–64, Hasselt's composure carried into the extra frame. Andenne managed just three points in overtime as Hasselt pulled away. Kyrylo Meshcheriakov led Hasselt with 23 points on sharp shooting (6/9 twos, 2/3 from three, 9/10 free throws) to go with 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Wouter Screurs added 15 points and 7 rebounds, while Daan Bijnens chipped in 9 points. For Andenne, Raphael Muth's 15 points (6/11) and Jimmy Stas's 13 (including 3/4 from three) kept them in contention, but the bench scoring dried up when it counted. The result extends Hasselt's streak to four straight wins, improving them to 6–1 in the group. Andenne drop to 1–5 and face a fourth consecutive defeat. Hasselt travel to face Basket Tongeren on Saturday.

BC Sprimont's unbeaten run in Group B continues — and continues to look unstoppable. The hosts demolished BC Guco Lier B 108–70 on Saturday, extending their winning streak to five and improving to 5–0 in the competition. The margin tells the story: a 38-point rout that was never truly in doubt after the opening minutes. Sprimont controlled the first quarter with authority, winning it 34–13 to establish a 21-point cushion immediately. A narrow second quarter (19–18) still left them ahead 53–31 at the half. The third quarter proved utterly decisive. Sprimont outscored Lier B 38–14 to stretch their lead to 46 points by the end of the period at 91–45. A 20–0 run mid-fourth quarter — the score running from 80–45 to 98–45 with 8:22 remaining — made the eventual margin of 38 look almost understated. Hugo Maréchal led Sprimont with 21 points on an efficient 10 of 12 shooting. Pierrick Van Den Brule contributed 17 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists while shooting a perfect 5 for 5 from the field. Alexandre Aerts added 16 points with three steals. For Lier B, now 1–5, Jaden Ochiagha scored 22 points on 8 of 12 shooting, but lacked the support needed in a lopsided contest. Sprimont visit Basket Sijsele next Saturday, 24 October, looking to maintain their flawless record in the group.

Hubo Limburg United held on to beat Rotterdam City Basketball 87–80, a hard-fought win that extended the hosts' early-season revival in the BNXT League regular season. Limburg built their platform early, winning the first quarter 25–17, then reeled off a 10-0 run midway through the second to open a commanding lead. By half-time, they led 47–37. The margin ballooned to 15 points early in the third quarter at 52–37 with 7:27 remaining in that frame, but Rotterdam clawed back hard. They outscored Limburg 28–21 in the third to pull within three heading into the fourth, then stayed within striking distance all the way to the final buzzer. Limburg sealed it 87–80, surviving a one-possession game in the closing two minutes. Vincent Shahid paced Limburg with 18 points on 9-of-9 free throws and six assists, while Aubin Gateretse added 17 on efficient 8-of-11 shooting with nine rebounds. Alonso Meana led Rotterdam with 17 points and five assists; Thomas Tumba contributed 16 and nine boards. The defeat leaves Rotterdam still winless at 0–3, their third straight loss. Limburg improve to 2–1. Limburg visit House of Talents Spurs Kortrijk on Friday 23 October. Rotterdam host CityX Mons on Sunday 25 October.

Caledonia Gladiators' 33-point cushion at the midway point of the third quarter proved enough to weather a furious fourth-quarter comeback and end a two-game losing run with an 87–79 win over B. Braun Sheffield Sharks. The hosts had dominated the first half, building that commanding advantage after winning the opening two quarters 18–4 and 32–20 to lead 50–24 at the break. Sheffield mounted a genuine threat in the final period, reeling off an 18-0 run midway through the quarter to cut the deficit to just five at 74–66. Inside the final two minutes it remained a one-possession game, but Caledonia's early control proved decisive. Sheffield took the loss after beginning their campaign with two straight wins; Caledonia, now 2–2, stopped the bleeding at 1–2. Terry Roberts led Caledonia with 17 points on 5 of 11 shooting, and Isiah Small anchored the boards with a double-double of 15 points and 17 rebounds, though he managed just 3 of 11 from the floor. Al-Amir Dawes added 16 points. For Sheffield, Lu'cye Patterson's 20 points on 6 of 15 came too late; Daniel Gherezgher (15 PTS, 5/7 FG) and Adrian Delph (15 PTS, 6/10 FG) pressed hard but couldn't force the comeback home. Caledonia visit Manchester Basketball on Sunday; Sheffield host Newcastle Eagles the same day.

Manchester Basketball held their nerve in a tight finish to edge Newcastle Eagles 81–78 in Super League Basketball, snapping a two-game losing streak with a gutsy away performance. The game remained in the balance throughout, with nine lead changes and two ties keeping both sides in contention. Newcastle took the opening quarter 22–21, but Manchester seized control in the second, ripping off a 10-0 run mid-quarter to establish early command. By half-time, Manchester led 44–38. Newcastle clawed back a level third quarter to trail 65–59 heading into the final period, setting up a close contest that went down to the wire — still a one-possession game inside the final two minutes. Manchester's biggest advantage came with 5:12 left in the third at 55–41, a 14-point cushion that proved decisive despite Newcastle's late rally. The Eagles won the fourth quarter 19–16 but couldn't quite close the gap, falling short by three in regulation. Blondeau Tchoukuiegno led Newcastle with 21 PTS on 9/17 shooting and 3/4 from three, while Cameron Christon added 19 PTS (7/12 FG). For Manchester, Ciaran Sandy finished with 14 PTS and 6 REB, and Luke Nelson contributed 13 PTS with 8 AST despite going 0/6 from distance. Newcastle slip to 2–2 after seeing their two-game win run ended. They visit B. Braun Sheffield Sharks on Sunday 18 October, while Manchester—now also 2–2—host Caledonia Gladiators the same day.

Jaylen Nowell brachte Besiktas Jk Istanbul mit 21 Punkten, 4 Assists und einer makellosen Bilanz ohne Turnover zum Sieg gegen FC Bayern München Basketball. Der Guard traf 7 von 13 Feldwürfen (2/3 Dreier) und verwandelte 5 von 6 Freiwürfe — eine klinische Vorstellung in 25 Minuten. Mit diesem 95:87-Erfolg behauptete sich Besiktas Jk Istanbul zuhause gegen einen hartnäckigen Bayern-Auftritt. Nowells Effizienz war dabei der entscheidende Faktor: null Ballverluste bei vier Korbvorlagen sprechen für einen spieler, der das Tempo kontrolliert und die richtige Balance zwischen Scoring und Playmaking fand. Bayern hielt bis zum Ende dagegen, aber die Präzision von Nowell — insbesondere seine Freiwurfquote von 83 Prozent — ließ München keinen Raum für ein Comeback. Ein starker Abend für den Besiktas-Guard in der Euroliga.

Brussels Basketball kept pace at the top of the BNXT League with a dominant 81–64 win over Coretec Oostende, stretching their unbeaten run to three straight. An 11–0 burst midway through the first quarter set the tone early; by the end of the opening period, Brussels had built a 25–16 lead. That cushion only widened in the second quarter, with another strong showing giving them a 44–28 halftime advantage of 16 points. Coretec showed some resistance in the third, outscoring Brussels 19–18 to trim it to 62–47, but the hosts pulled clear again in the final period, reaching a peak lead of 21 points with just over four minutes remaining before cruising home. Eric Boone Jr. led the way with 16 points on 7/13 shooting, adding 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Tucker Richardson chipped in 12 points and 6 rebounds with 5 assists, while Louis Hazard delivered 11 points on efficient 4/7 work, 2–2 from three. For Oostende, Moussa Sylla's 14 points on 5/9 shooting and Jakobi Heady's 13 points proved too little to dent the lead. Brussels remain perfect at 3–0 and host Landstede Hammers Zwolle on Sunday 25 October. Coretec slip to 1–2 and travel to Val-Dieu Spirou Basket on Friday 23 October.

Collin Malcolm finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals and 1 block across 36 minutes, shooting 7 of 11 from the field to lead Efes Pilsen Istanbul to a 85–70 road win over Zalgiris Kaunas in the EuroLeague Regular Season. Malcolm's efficiency on limited volume — he took just 11 shots and turned it over only once — proved decisive in a game where Efes Pilsen Istanbul built and held a 15-point margin. His ball security mattered as much as his shooting; four steals spoke to active perimeter defense when Zalgiris Kaunas needed to generate offence late. The win underscores Efes Pilsen Istanbul's ability to impose its pace and control away from home.

Eric Boone Jr. carries Brussels Basketball into tonight's matchup against Coretec Oostende running a 61.5 TIB Efficiency rating — the kind of form that puts him at the sharp end of the BNXT League right now. He's averaging 10.7 points and 5 assists in recent weeks, the engine room for Brussels' half-court tempo. Opposite him sits Pierre-Antoine Gillet, Oostende's 10.8-point scorer, holding a 40.7 TIB rating of his own. Gillet's distributing at 2.6 assists per game, less of a playmaker than Boone but plenty efficient in his own patterns. The real story is the gap in pacing: Boone's decision-making and volume separation — five assists to Gillet's 2.6 — will be the fulcrum. If Brussels can control tempo through Boone's hands, Oostende will chase. If Oostende tightens the perimeter and forces Brussels into stagnation, Gillet's steadier, lower-volume game becomes the blueprint. Tip-off in about three hours. Watch live.

Julius Mims has been the engine for Hubo Limburg United's offense in recent weeks — 16 points per game on a 76.3 TIB Efficiency rating that sits well clear of the BNXT League pack. Tonight he faces a Rotterdam City Basketball defense anchored by Isaiah Gaines, who rates at 37 TIB Efficiency and has averaged 12 points and 1 assist in current form. The gap between those two ratings tells the story of the matchup. Mims is operating at a different level right now, and Rotterdam will need Gaines to impose himself early if they're to keep Limburg from dictating the tempo down low. Tip-off is in about three hours. Watch it live.