Sagesse Edge Antonine, 114-113
In a nail-biting D1M contest at Ghazir, Sagesse escaped with a 114-113 victory over Antonine on Saturday, January 24. Youssef Khayat led the charge for Sagesse with a game-high 26 points and 12 rebounds. It was an up-tempo, high-scoring affair with both teams combining for 227 points.
Antonine took a 54-46 lead into halftime, but Sagesse mounted a stunning second-half comeback, outscoring Antonine 57-49 after the break. The first quarter was the decisive stretch, with Antonine outscoring their opponents 31-23 to swing the momentum in their favor. Sagesse closed the game strong with a 26-20 fourth-quarter effort.
The game featured several highlight plays. The game featured 5 dunks in total, with Y. Khayat (Sagesse) throwing down a powerful slam in the first quarter. W. Hodge (Sagesse) connected from beyond the arc in the third quarter during a crucial stretch. C. Chapman was a force on the defensive end with 9 blocks.
Youssef Khayat was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 26 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks in 45 minutes of action. He shot 9-of-18 (50%) from the field, 1-of-5 (20%) from three-point range, 7-of-11 (64%) from the free-throw line. The double-double effort underlined his all-around impact on the game. Kevin Murphy provided valuable support with 27 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists. Walter Hodge also chipped in with 20 points off the starting lineup.
Sagesse's bench was a major factor, contributing 34 points off the pine. Kevin Murphy was the standout reserve, providing 27 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists in a spark-plug role. Sagesse also generated 10 second-chance points and 19 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Both teams shot similarly from the field — Sagesse at 52% and Antonine at 49%. From beyond the arc, Sagesse connected on 10-of-25 (40%) while Antonine managed just 20-of-39 (51%). Sagesse also had the advantage at the charity stripe, converting 30 free throws to Antonine's 19.
Antonine committed 13 turnovers compared to Sagesse's 7, leading to 18 points off turnovers for Sagesse. Sagesse owned the paint with 52 points inside to Antonine's 28. Sagesse's ball movement was superior with 30 assists to Antonine's 23.
The biggest momentum shift came when Sagesse put together a 10-0 run in the third quarter, leaving their opponents scrambling to respond.
Down the stretch, Sagesse came up clutch when it mattered most. Y. Khayat nailed a key basket with 00:03 remaining to help seal the victory. It was a white-knuckle finish that had both benches on their feet until the final buzzer.
For Antonine, Clint Chapman was the standout performer in defeat with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks. Mark Khoury added 24 points, 8 rebounds, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.