While the two teams were facing each other for the fourth time of the season, Monaco confirmed the advantage it had taken over Le Mans by winning the closing clash of the 24th day of the Betclic Elite.
Monaco remains a thorn in Le Mans’ side this season. Already victorious against MSB this season in the SuperCup final and the Leaders Cup final, as well as in the first leg of the championship, the “Roca Team” has solidified a certain advantage over the Sarthoise team in the closing game of the 24th day of the Betclic Elite. Although the Manceaux struck first with a three-point shot by Travante Williams (12 points), it was the Principality’s players who quickly took the lead. A 14-2 run allowed them to surpass the ten-point mark before finishing the first quarter with a ten-point cushion on a last basket scored by Juhann Begarin (12 points).
Monaco remained steady
While the start of the second quarter saw Le Mans reduce their deficit to two possessions, the Monégasques increased the intensity on their court at the Salle Gaston-Médecin. Terry Tarpey scored his only basket of the evening to extend their lead to 17 points just over three minutes before halftime. Finishing strong, the “Roca Team” reached halftime with a 19-point lead through Nemanja Nadovic (13 points, 7 assists) from long range. The 20-point mark was surpassed early in the third quarter after a 7-0 run by Matthew Strazel (17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists). From there, both teams traded blows as the “Roca Team” introduced Maxim Klitschko, son of former boxer and current mayor of Kiev Vitali Klitschko.
Okobo lost his cool
This allowed Monaco to enter the last ten minutes with a comfortable lead. The final quarter started with a heated moment for Elie Okobo (15 points, 5 assists). An altercation with Ugo Doumbia convinced the referees to eject the Monégasque point guard. While Le Mans pushed to get back within ten points, the Principality’s club regained their composure to soar to a fourteen-point victory (99-85), the 20th of the season. MSB, on the other hand, drops out of the Top 6 after this second defeat in three games. However, the Monégasques maintain their advantage over the Sarthois before their fifth meeting this season in the Coupe de France final on April 25 at the Accor Arena in Paris-Bercy.
