Asvel secured their first victory in the sixth round of the EuroLeague. They defeated Zalgiris 91-88 in an away game.
The home team suffered their second consecutive loss at home, while the guests secured their first victory with an excellent performance in the last quarter, which they won 19-8.
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot was outstanding in the final moments, leading his team to victory. He finished the match with 19 points, Youssoupha Fall scored 15, and Joffrey Lauvergne contributed 13 points.
In the home team, Tomas Dimsa scored 21 points, Keenan Evans scored 19, and Edgaras Ulanovas scored 14 points.
In the next round, Zalgiris will visit Anadolu Efes, while Asvel will play away against Monaco.
The home team, which had lost to Valencia in the previous round at their home court, started the match better. After a few minutes of play, they took a 16-6 lead, forcing the guests’ coach Gianmarco Pozzeco to call a timeout. The French team’s defense had no answers for Keenan Evans, who scored 11 points in the first quarter, and after 10 minutes of play, the score was 30-24.
The guests started the second quarter better, going on a 10-3 run and narrowing the gap to 34-33. The home team’s coach Kazys Maksvytis called a timeout. Zalgiris managed to create a difference again at the end of the quarter, and they went into halftime with a lead of 56-50.
In the second half, the home team started stronger and, after five minutes of play, they once again had a double-digit lead, 71-61. The home team maintained their double-digit lead until the end of the third quarter when Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot‘s layup reduced the deficit to 80-72.
In the final quarter, the guests gained confidence and managed to bring the game to a suspenseful finish. After Luwawu-Cabarrot’s points, they took the lead 89-88 with 19 seconds left. Zalgiris attempted an attack with Evans, who missed the shot. The ball came to Edgaras Ulanovas, but he also missed. Luwawu-Cabarrot grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He made both free throws, leading his team to their first EuroLeague victory of the season.
ZALGIRIS – AVEL 88:91 (30:24, 26:26, 24:22, 8: 19)
Venue: Zalgirio arena
Referees: Paternico, Shemmesh, Clivaz
Zalgiris: Evans 19, Mitrou-Long 2, Lekavicius 6, Hayes 6, Giedraitis, Smits 5, Birutis 11, Butka, Dimsa 21, Manek 2, Butkevicius 2, Ulanovas 14.
Asvel: Scott 12, Lee 6, Kahudi 6, Lauvergne 13, Luwawu- Cabarrot 19, Dallo, E. Jackson 3, De Colo 13, Fall 15, Lighty 2, Ndiaye, F. Jackson 2.