Saturday evening, Le Mans won a difficult victory against La Rochelle (81-71) on the last day of Betclic Elite. Despite their position at the bottom, the Rochelais gave Guillaume Vizade's players a hard time.
A complicated start to the match for Le Mans
According to L'Équipe, after their exploit against Paris (84-76) a few days earlier, the Manceaux hoped to follow up with a convincing performance. However, it was La Rochelle who took the lead from the start of the match, quickly leading 9-3. The audience at the Antarès hall, accustomed to more solid beginnings, held their breath.
A surge in the second quarter
Le Mans was able to react in the second quarter, inflicting a severe 29-9 on their opponents to regain the advantage. But this domination did not last. The Manceaux then showed signs of excitement, allowing the Rochelais to stay in the race until the last minutes.
Decisive individuals
In this close duel, David DiLeo stood out with 14 points, while Tray Buchanan scored a crucial basket at the end of the match, thus sealing the Le Mans victory. For La Rochelle, Gaëtan Clerc finished as his team's top scorer with 16 points, confirming the visitors' unfailing commitment despite their difficult situation in the standings.
A victory that leaves questions
If Le Mans leaves with the points, the performance leaves something to be desired. The team will have to quickly regain its level to hope to play leading roles in the competition.
