Brussels claimed an 81-64 victory over Ostend in the BNXT League on Thursday evening, reinforcing their position in the standings with a decisive win against a fellow Belgian side. The match ended with the home team in control, having built a comfortable margin that reflected their dominance throughout the contest. By then, the result was never in doubt as Brussels maintained their composure from start to finish.
Ostend arrived in sixth place with two games played, one win, one defeat and zero points to their name — a record that suggested they were still finding their rhythm in the early stages. Their recent form had been mixed, including a heavy 91-76 loss to Basket Girona and a narrow 76-69 win over Levice in the preceding week. To be fair, the visitors showed more resistance than some might have expected, but not enough to trouble the hosts.
We had predicted a home victory with 52 per cent confidence, and the outcome confirmed that assessment without any real doubt. Brussels had won their previous outing 77-61 against Leiden and looked comfortable at home, while Ostend's away record offered little cause for optimism. And here's the thing, the gap between the sides was visible in every quarter, not just in the final tally.
The hosts carried momentum from their recent encounters, having defeated their opponents in two of their last three games. Their previous meeting with Ostend on May 17 saw a 64-77 result in favour of the visitors, but this time the dynamic had shifted completely. The home side played with purpose, moving the ball effectively and capitalising on opportunities that came their way.
What the result means in context is straightforward: Brussels extend their positive run and demonstrate they can deliver when expectations are placed upon them. Ostend remain in the lower half of the table with only two games completed, and there is still plenty of season ahead to change the picture. The final score of 81-64 tells the story without embellishment.
