Mechelen's nine-point lead early in the third quarter evaporated as Aalst seized control down the stretch. A 14-0 run mid-fourth—the score flipped from 72-68 to 72-82 in a span that buried any Mechelen comeback hopes—left the visitors in command. Malik Thomas, Niels Van Den Eynde and Mattias Palinckx orchestrated the decisive push with clinical execution. Thomas led the way with 28 points on efficient 10-of-16 shooting. Van Den Eynde added 23 points and six assists while Palinckx chipped in 19 on 8-of-11 from the field. For Mechelen, Sigfredo Casero Ortiz scored 23 and Max Klesmit 19, but their efforts couldn't overcome the third-quarter collapse and Aalst's fourth-quarter suffocation. The first half tilted toward Mechelen—they built a 49-42 halftime advantage—yet Aalst outscored them by 10 across the final two quarters. Ten lead changes and five ties kept the early game fluid, but once Aalst found rhythm in the third and fourth, they were never threatened again. Mechelen hosts CB Liège on Saturday. Aalst travel to ZZ Leiden the same day.