Monaco came close to its first defeat of the season at home in the league, but the leader and French basketball champion narrowly escaped against Le Mans (78-74), Sunday on the 20th day.
Two days after crushing Real Madrid at Gaston-Médecin in the Euroleague (98-74), ASM almost conceded its second defeat in Elite, after that suffered in Nancy on November 4 (94-86).
But he won thanks in part to Elie Okobo, who returned Friday from a two-week suspension for “violation of internal rules”. The French point guard obtained a “2 1” (basket with foul), converted by a free throw, 42 seconds from the end to put his team back in front (76-74). The “Roca Team” was also able to count on a mix-up from Manceau Trevor Hudgins: excellent all evening (19 pts including 5/11 at long distance), the American lost the ball, three seconds before the buzzer. of equalization or victory, pressed by Mike James and Terry Tarpey.
Monaco is three victories ahead of its runner-up Bourg-en-Bresse, winner on Saturday and to which Asvel also responded, victorious in the room of the red lantern Boulogne-Levallois (103-79). The Villeurbannais (3rd with 14 victories for five defeats) return to a success for Bressans with one more match to play. Their third victory in a row took shape in the second period (48-42 at half-time) and in the rebounding sector, where they copiously dominated (42 shots to 29), starting with Youssoupha Fall (11).
Strasbourg, for its part, carried out a good operation by winning in Limoges (80-73), thanks to an 11-0 inflicted to take a nine-length lead two minutes from the end (74-65): the SIG takes two victories ahead of the CSP, three ahead of the relegation zone and put themselves back in the race for qualification.
