By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
AS Monaco almost blew a 16-point lead in the fourth period but held on to overcome a fantastic Brandon Jefferson (34 points, five assists) and beat Pau Orthez 83 – 85 in Game 4 of the French Jeep Elite semifinals and win the series 3-1. The Monegasque side will face defending champion ASVEL Villeurbanne in the best-of-five Finals series.
Orthez was trailing 61 – 77 early in the fourth quarter and then made a 10-0 run to approach 81 – 83 with a minute to play thanks to a triple by Jefferson. Will Thomas put Monaco at a two-possession distance once more and then Jeremy Leloup answered with two free throws but that was the last Orthez scored in the match.
Mike James led Monaco with 21 points (on 5-15 shots). Thomas scored 15 , Donta Hall had 12 points plus seven rebounds and Leo Westermann contributed 12 points plus six assists.
Apart from Jefferson, Justin Bibbins dropped 16 points for Orthez.