Generali Okapi Aalstar produced one of the most emphatic home displays of the BNXT League season on October 25, 2026, beating GasTerra Flames Groningen 114-90. The Belgian side set the tone early with a high-tempo first quarter and never allowed the Dutch visitors to settle, turning a potentially competitive cross-border fixture into a one-sided contest by halftime.

Match overview

Aalstar’s offensive balance was the story of the night. The hosts attacked the paint with purpose, moved the ball sharply around the perimeter, and punished Groningen’s rotations with timely three-point shooting. By the end of the first half, the game already had a clear direction, and the second half became a matter of whether the visitors could slow the pace and cut into the deficit.

• Final score: Generali Okapi Aalstar 114, GasTerra Flames Groningen 90
• Quarter scores: 29-22, 30-20, 26-25, 29-23
• Competition: BNXT League
• Date: October 25, 2026

How Aalstar built the win

The first quarter established the template. Aalstar scored 29 points and forced Groningen into contested shots, while the second quarter broke the game open. A 30-20 run before halftime gave the hosts a 17-point cushion and drained much of the visitors’ momentum. Aalstar’s guards controlled the tempo, and their big men won the battle on the boards, creating second-chance opportunities that kept the pressure on.

The third quarter was more even, but Aalstar never allowed Groningen to string together the defensive stops needed for a comeback. Whenever the Flames threatened to reduce the gap, the hosts answered with a quick transition basket or an open look from beyond the arc. That pattern continued into the fourth, where Aalstar closed with another 29-point period.

Groningen’s response

GasTerra Flames Groningen had their moments offensively, particularly in the third quarter when they matched Aalstar’s scoring for long stretches. The visitors found some success attacking the rim and drawing fouls, but their defensive problems proved too difficult to solve. Groningen conceded 114 points, a total that reflects both Aalstar’s efficiency and the visitors’ inability to contain dribble penetration.

The loss leaves Groningen with work to do on the defensive end. Their rebounding effort improved after halftime, but the first-half hole was too deep. Against a team shooting with Aalstar’s confidence, every missed rotation became costly.

Standout performers

Aalstar’s scoring was spread across the rotation, with Milan Vandenberghe leading the way from the backcourt and Darius Cole providing a powerful inside-outside presence. Cole’s work on the glass and his ability to finish through contact gave the hosts a reliable second option whenever Groningen tried to run the guards off the three-point line. Jarno Claes also delivered important minutes off the bench, knocking down open shots and helping Aalstar maintain its pace.

For Groningen, Sjoerd van Dijk was the most consistent offensive threat, while Elijah Moore battled on the boards. The Flames’ top scorer found ways to score in transition, but Groningen lacked the defensive consistency to turn those individual efforts into a real comeback.

What the result means

For Aalstar, the 114-90 win is a confidence boost and a clear signal of what the team can do when its offense clicks. In the BNXT League standings, such a dominant home victory can be valuable not only for the win column but also for tie-breakers and momentum. Aalstar’s ability to score from multiple positions makes them a difficult matchup, especially when the guards are controlling the pace.

Groningen, meanwhile, will focus on tightening their defense and avoiding the slow starts that have put them under pressure. The Flames showed enough offensive flashes to suggest they can compete, but allowing 114 points on the road is a problem that needs immediate attention.