Nanterre secured an 86-69 victory over Cholet Basket at the Palais des Sports Maurice-Thorez, bouncing back from a loss against Nancy while handing Cholet their second defeat in Betclic ELITE play.
Nanterre Restores Order After Early Stumbles
Nanterre capitalized on a dominant interior performance and sharp perimeter shooting despite missing Mitchell Saxen. Xavier Castañeda led the hosts with 25 points and 5 assists, earning an evaluation of 23. Donta Scott added 18 points, shooting 4-of-5 from beyond the arc alongside 6 rebounds, as Nanterre built a 44-34 halftime lead and maintained control through the final buzzer. After having stumbled in the opening minutes, the Franciliens quickly took charge at the end of the first quarter under the impulse of Xavier Castañeda. Nanterre comfortably managed their advantage with serenity to claim a logical victory in front of their home supporters.
Towo-Nansi Shines in First Career Start
Cholet opened the match with aggressive transition play, fueled by 17-year-old point guard Aaron Towo-Nansi. Making the first start of his career in Betclic ELITE in place of the injured Jarrod West—who joined team captain Miralem Halilovic on the injured list—Towo-Nansi scored 7 of his team-high 16 points in the opening five minutes to put Cholet ahead 14-8. He finished the night with 16 points and 5 assists in 25 minutes of action, supported by fellow academy product Amadou Fall, who contributed 7 points in 15 minutes off the bench. But Xavier Castañeda and Donta Scott soon extinguished those efforts.
Rebounds and Long-Range Shooting Decide the Outcome
Nanterre took control of the game by dominating the glass, outrebounding Cholet 47 to 33, with J’Wan Roberts securing 13 boards alone. The Franciliens limited second-chance opportunities and shot 40.9 percent from three-point range (9-of-22), starkly contrasting with Cholet’s 17.2 percent conversion rate from deep (5-of-30). Cholet’s loss drops their early-season record to 2 wins and 5 losses.
Next Fixtures in Betclic ELITE
Nanterre looks to build on their momentum following the bounce-back win at home, while Cholet works to adjust their rotation in the prolonged absence of Jarrod West as the Betclic ELITE regular season continues.
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