By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Unicaja opened the 2023/24 season in the Basketball Champions League with a statement 3-0 score but couldn’t extend the winning streak in Round 4.
The Spanish side suffered its first defeat in France to Le Mans Sarthe Basket, which bounced back after consecutive losses with an 85-78 victory.
Devante Jones stood out in the French side’s second win of the season with 18 points. His compatriot, Trevor Hudgins, added 13, while Tyran De Lattiebeaudiere scored 12, and Matt Lewis contributed 10 points.
The Malaga team had only two players in double digits, with Dylan Osetkowski almost reaching a double-double with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Kendrick Perry also scored 15.
Le Mans won the game, hitting only four three-pointers. However, they had an impressive 26-39 for two and shot 29 free throws with 72.4% accuracy, hitting 21.
Even though the hosts led for most of the second and throughout the third quarter, Unicaja still had a fighting chance until the very last moments. They trimmed a 15-point deficit in the final period, tying the match at 78 with two minutes on the clock. But Le Mans stayed focused in the final moments, finishing Unicaja with a 7-0 run to close the game.
Postgame press conference
Photo: fiba.basketball