By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The 2020-21 French League season started with two games ahead of schedule but in the clash which should have been the first by the regular schedule, Dijon made a strong comeback to grab a win and upset ASVEL.
Dijon – ASVEL 81-74
Despite having a 12-0 start and dominating the boards, especially on the offensive side which gave them lots of second chances, ASVEL couldn’t overcome the Dijon squad led by David Holston who scored finished with 22 points.
Holston was also the one to score 14 straight points (four threes) in the fourth quarter at 59-57 on the scoreboard and lift his team up to 74-59 single-handedly.
Axel Julien scored 19 while Alexandre Chassang added 13 points. On the other side, Allerik Freeman scored 15 in addition to Ismael Bako and Amine Noua’s 11 points each for the reigning champions.
Orleans – Cholet 101 – 63
Darius Johnson-Odom scored 27 points and Chima Moneke added 23 points as Orleans crushed Cholet at home. Michael Stockton (15 points) was the only Cholet player to score in double figures.
Le Mans – Strasbourg 97 – 79
With five players scoring double-digit numbers, Le Mans’ offense won the day against Strasbourg. Scott Bamforth led the way with 24 points while Ovie Soko posted 17 points and five rebounds.
Bonzie Colson dropped 17 points for Strasbourg. Ishmail Wainright had 13 points.
Limoges – Nanterre 76 – 85
Chris Warren’s 24 points and Isaia Cordinier’s double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds) pushed Nanterre to the road win over Limoges. Nicolas Lang had 23 points for the hosts.
Boulogne Levalois – Gravelines Dunkerque 89 – 57
Levalois dominated early with a 25 – 7 entrance and finished the job in the second half vs. Dunkerque behind Vitalis Chikoko’s 27 points and eight rebounds. Anthony Brown added 13 points and seven rebounds while Tomer Ginat notched 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Chris Horton dropped 17 points and got 11 rebounds.
Chalon Saone – Pau Orthez 76 – 78
Orthez entered the new season by grabbing the away victory over Chalone Saone. Shanon Evans produced 23 points and Nicolas De Jong contributed 17 points and seven rebounds.
Sim Garett (16 points) and DJ Cooper (11 points, 10 assists) were the best the hosts had to offer. The latter also delivered this highlight.
? DJ Cooper pour lui même …
? @ELANCHALON #ClairementDeRetour pic.twitter.com/N6YU6szrgG— LNB (@LNBofficiel) September 26, 2020
Bourg-en-Bresse – Roanne 80-63
Zachery Peacock scored 18 points for the winning side as they closed the Day 1 action for the French League. Danilo Andjusic helped out with 13 and Zack Wright with 12 points.
For Roanne, Juvonte Reddic scored 16 in addition to Steve Ho You Fat’s 12 points.
Le Portel – Chalons-Reims 78-76
Le Portel gambled away a 24-point lead but still managed to come out on top of Chalons-Reims, led by Mikyle McIntosh’s 27 points.
Mehdy Ngouama added 13 and Boris Dallo ten points. On the other side, Jalen Adams had a strong output for Chalons with 28 points while Dominique Archie scored 17 and Travis Leslie 16 points.
Pau Orthez – Le Mans (postponed)
Just one hour before Monday’s tip-off the game was postponed due to a COVID outbreak in Pau’s roster.