Pau-Lacq-Orthez defeated Limoges 85-81 in the 115th installment of French basketball’s classic rivalry at the Palais des Sports in Pau, securing their second victory of the Betclic Élite season in front of 7 355 spectators.
Pau-Lacq-Orthez Builds Early Lead Against Limoges
The encounter between the two historic clubs began with intense defensive pressure from the home side, who limited Limoges’ fluid ball-movement in the opening quarters. Pau-Lacq-Orthez built an early advantage behind the scoring of Bastien Pinault and Michael Flowers, taking a 31-20 lead into the second period. The visitors struggled to find rhythm after losing veteran Nicolas Lang to a knee injury early in the contest. Gide Noël extended the margin to 19 points late in the second quarter before Limoges trimmed the deficit to 52-39 at halftime behind contributions from Mamadou Guissé.
Le premier classico de la saison est remporté par @EBPLO 💪#BetclicElite #Basketball pic.twitter.com/Xnafd5WclC
Limoges Fights Back From a 19-Point Deficit
Limoges reduced the deficit repeatedly during the second half through the play of Tai Webster, Andrew Albicy, and Hugo Invernizzi. After falling behind by 19 points again following the break, the visitors mounted a sustained comeback attempt in the third and fourth quarters. Free throws from Webster and Stergar cut the margin to single digits, and late baskets by D.J. Horne narrowed the gap to 79-74 with just over a minute remaining on the clock. Gregor Hrovat provided crucial points for the hosts down the stretch, converting a decisive basket with 33.6 seconds left to halt the Limoges surge.
Standout Statistics and Tactical Shifts
Fabio Milanese led the home backcourt with 14 points, while center Justin Briggs controlled the paint with 13 points and 9 rebounds in 23 minutes of action. For Limoges, Guissé finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Gavin Ware added 14 points and 7 rebounds. Despite the strong interior presence, Limoges head coach Arnaud Tessier expressed deep disappointment with his team’s performance, telling reporters he failed to adequately prepare his group of players for the fixture.
Coach Reactions After the Final Buzzer
Pau-Lacq-Orthez coach Mickaël Hay acknowledged the tension in the closing moments of the match. “We didn’t know how to kill the match at a certain point, but we had to go get it and everyone threw themselves into the battle,” Hay said after the final buzzer, adding that such hard-fought victories help unite the squad following a difficult start to the campaign. Conversely, Limoges coach Arnaud Tessier took full responsibility for the defeat, describing the performance of his roster as insufficient for the club’s ambitions.
Pau-Lacq-Orthez Moves into 10th Place
With the four-point victory, Pau-Lacq-Orthez moved past Limoges in the Betclic Élite standings into 10th place, holding a one-victory cushion above the zone rouge after five matches. Limoges turns its focus toward a crucial upcoming league fixture against neighboring rivals Boulazac at home.
Mam’ en solitaire pour terminer au buzzer de cette première mi-temps. Pau mène 52-39. Allez les gars 👊 pic.twitter.com/BfNm2gyBiZ
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🏀📻 EN DIRECT – Basket Betclic Elite (J5) : vivez le match du Limoges CSP sur le parquet de Pau-Orthez ce dimanche sur votre radio locale ICI Limousin➡️ https://t.co/hsaaSUCQSD pic.twitter.com/VHb64ULzTH
Basket Betclic Elite (J5) : le Limoges CSP perd le 115 clasico sur le parquet de Pau-Orthez➡️ https://t.co/aqb6zjCc9p pic.twitter.com/MsXcx0kTMm
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