Élan Chalon écrase Nancy 108-67 en Betclic Elite

« Contre Nancy, la balle a très, très bien bougé », declared Élan Chalon guard Jeremiah Hill, capturing the fluid ball movement that propelled his team to a dominant 108-67 victory over SLUC Nancy at Le Colisée on October 10, 2026. The resounding 41-point triumph during the third round of the Betclic Elite season marked a complete turnaround for Chalon following a sluggish European outing days prior.

Chalon Overwhelms Nancy in a 41-Point Rout

The visiting Nancéiens managed to stay competitive during an opening period that ended with Chalon holding a slim 28-24 lead, thanks to perimeter shooting and Stéphane Gombauld’s activity at the free-throw line, as reported by BeBasket. However, the contest shifted dramatically in the second quarter. Chalon unleashed a rapid offensive surge that overwhelmed the Lorraine defense, building a 57-42 advantage by halftime. Young playmaker Mathéo Leray orchestrated the first half masterclass, recording 14 points on perfect shooting, 8 assists, and 3 interceptions in just 19 minutes.

The second half offered no relief for Nancy as the hosts poured in 51 additional points. Carl Ponsar contributed 15 points behind a 4-of-6 shooting performance from beyond the arc, while Grant Golden dominated the paint with 20 points, according to BeBasket. Chalon ultimately secured a 108-67 victory, shooting 52.6 percent from the field and draining 15 of 33 three-point attempts while dishing out 30 total assists, as noted by Le Figaro.

Jeremiah Hill and Elric Delord Praise Ball Movement and Defense

Reflecting on the performance, Jeremiah Hill contrasted the evening with Chalon’s previous narrow 79-72 victory over Manchester in Europe Cup play. « Mercredi, on est ressorti du match de Manchester avec un sentiment mitigé », Hill told Le JSL, explaining that despite the scoreboard victory, the team lacked the desired effort and execution. Against Nancy, however, the guards found open looks in succession because the ball moved efficiently through the offense, rooted entirely in defensive stops.

Head coach Elric Delord noted that the blowout served as a positive response following an opening loss at Bourg-en-Bresse (90-77). Delord emphasized patience given the roster turnover during the preseason, which included integrating newcomers and managing injuries. New additions Jeriah Horne and Jacob Grandison have worked quickly to catch up, with Grandison adapting swiftly due to similar tactical demands with the Finnish national team.

Nancy Faces Historic Narrow Escape and Mounting Injuries

The 41-point defeat left Nancy winless through three matches alongside Élan Béarnais and Gravelines-Dunkerque, according to Le Figaro and Sport.fr. The margin of defeat nearly matched the club’s worst-ever first division losses—both 42-point deficits—incurred previously against Chalon (106-66 on February 18, 2012) and Paris Basketball (113-71 on March 20, 2024), according to BeBasket archives. Compounding the defensive struggles, Nancy played through the exits of injured players Michael Weathers and Isaiah Cozart, while also dealing with the physical toll of an energy-draining Europe Cup win against Vienne (66-65) earlier in the week.

Upcoming Matchups in Betclic Elite

SLUC Nancy will return home to host Cholet Basket next week as they search for their first victory of the domestic campaign. Cholet enters the fixture carrying momentum from a three-match winning streak across all competitions, including an 85-79 victory over Pau-Lacq-Orthez powered by a double-double from pivot Justin Briggs (18 points and 12 rebounds), as detailed by Le Figaro.