Bourg-en-Bresse hosted Monaco for the 24th day of Betclic Elite. The Monegasques were fielding a weakened team, with several key players rested ahead of a EuroLeague clash. On the other side, Bourg-en-Bresse was riding a strong wave and sought to extend its streak.
The Roca Team arrived confident against the Bressans. The first half turned out to be very offensive, with Bourg-en-Bresse heading to the locker rooms with an eight-point lead. The second half quickly became one-sided: Monaco gave way while Bourg-en-Bresse picked up the pace. The match concluded with the largest Monegasque defeat of the season (104-81).
Elie Okobo scored the first basket, Bogach immediately responded. The Monegasques rolled out their game and took the lead, 12-19. Nikola Mirotic was everywhere, while Elie Okobo led his team.
A few turnovers forced Frédéric Fauthoux to call a timeout. His players reacted immediately, with McDowell-White launching a six-point run. The Bressans then took the lead thanks to solid defense and impressive shooting. The game gained intensity.
A buzzer-beater by Mitchell gave Bourg-en-Bresse a two-possession lead after ten minutes: 31-27.
Mitchell continued his momentum with an early three-pointer in the second quarter. Assemian Moularé followed, and the gap extended to ten points. Monaco then came back to within one after Matthew Strazel’s first basket. Assemian Moularé (19 points) stayed hot, while Elie Okobo and Matthew Strazel kept the Roca Team in the game.
The Bressans ended the half with a dunk from Adam Mokoka (15 points) and led 59-51. Monaco, with a reshuffled team, needed to raise their defensive level to hope for more.
The Roca Team falls behind
Lindo restarted Bourg-en-Bresse, Nikola Mirotic responded. The pace remained high: defensive pressure, ball movement, McGee distributing, Adam Mokoka and his teammates scoring. Moularé took a breather on the bench.
On the other side, Monaco found fewer and fewer solutions. Frustration mounted, with Matthew Strazel receiving a technical foul. Elie Okobo kept hope alive with his initiatives, but Bourg-en-Bresse consistently answered. Adam Mokoka scored from long range, Darius McGee (seven assists) launched counterattacks, and the gap grew to fifteen points.
A three-pointer from Darius McGee even increased the lead to +19. Elie Okobo scored two consecutive baskets, but Bourg-en-Bresse firmly held the game, leading 84-68 at the end of the third quarter.
The Bressans continued their offensive demonstration. Darius McGee scored from the logo, the gap reached +22, and the 100-point mark was surpassed 4:32 from the end.
The end of the game lost intensity: Monaco rotated players, Bourg-en-Bresse continued to attack. The final score, 104-81, marked the heaviest defeat for Monaco this season.
The Roca Team will need to show a different face in the EuroLeague this week, with a full squad. Bourg-en-Bresse, on their part, continues their strong run authoritatively, taking 4th place with two games in hand.
