Leading the championship, the Roca Team defeated Saint-Quentin (92-84) this Saturday evening at Gaston-Mรฉdecin for the 7th day of Betclic Elite. After largely dominating the first half, Monaco saw their lead shrink at the end of the game before pulling through in the last seconds.
Without Mike James, Jaron Blossomgame, and Alpha Diallo, Monaco approached this match with a reshuffled lineup. However, the start was well-controlled. Driven by an inspired Matthew Strazel with nine points already, the Monegasques quickly took the lead. Saint-Quentin, hindered by several turnovers, suffered from the pace imposed by the Roca Team. The first quarter ended with a clear (25-12) for the home team.
The second quarter offered a different scenario. Less focused, Monaco saw Saint-Quentin get back into the game. The visitors, led by Giovan Oniangue and Loรฏc Schwartz, took advantage of the opponents’ inaccuracies (eleven turnovers for the Roca Team) to close the gap. SQBB won the period and entered the locker room with only an eleven-point deficit (48-37).
Back on the court, Monaco tried to regain control. Yoan Makoundou brought energy under the basket, while Nikola Mirotic ensured a valuable presence in attack. The gap stretched to over twenty points before another reaction from the Picards. At the end of the third quarter, Monaco led (72-57) but did not seem completely safe.
The final act confirmed this impression. Saint-Quentin increased their level of play. The visitors took more initiatives and fully got back into the match, coming within four points in the final seconds. The crowd at Gaston-Mรฉdecin held their breath before Terry Tarpey’s decisive block, which sealed the outcome of the game. Final score: (92-84).
Matthew Strazel as conductor
Matthew Strazel held the fort throughout the match. Scoring 21 points and four assists, he was the main offensive engine for the Roca Team. Around him, Juhann Begarin (eleven points, seven rebounds) and Nemanja Nedovic (nine points, six rebounds, five assists) ensured the team’s stability.
Nikola Mirotic, used sparingly, made the most of his minutes with efficiency (eight points at 100% shooting). Yoan Makoundou added nine points and three rebounds in a more discreet role. This depth allowed Monaco to compensate for its major absences.
On the other side, Saint-Quentin could count on a consistent Giovan Oniangue (18 points, six rebounds) and a good collective contribution. Loรฏc Schwartz (14 points) and Clifton Moore (11 points at 83% shooting) led the fightback in the second half. However, the numerous turnovers weighed heavily in the game’s outcome even though Monaco was far from perfect in this regard.
This victory allows Monaco to retain the top spot in the Betclic Elite standings after seven games. Saint-Quentin remains second to last and will need to react quickly to avoid falling behind in the race to remain in the league.
Next steps for the Roca Team: a challenging double away game on the courts of Partizan Belgrade on Tuesday and Red Star Belgrade on Thursday in the Euroleague. The Monegasques will return to the French championship next Sunday still playing away at Le Mans.
