Saumur suffered its second defeat of the season after a sluggish start left the visitors with too much ground to make up in a 75-74 loss to league leaders Saint-Delphin. Trailing by 23 points at halftime, Nadir Naïdji’s squad mounted a fierce second-half comeback that fell a single point short when the hosts secured crucial late baskets.
A Slow Start Costs Saumur Early Momentum
The visiting side struggled to find any rhythm during the opening two quarters, allowing the Girondines to seize absolute control of the match. Saint-Delphin capitalized on erratic shooting from Saumur to build an early 22-6 lead by the seventh minute. The first period ended 27-14 in favor of the hosts. Matters worsened before the break as the home team extended their advantage to 40-17 by the 15th minute, heading into halftime with a commanding 55-32 cushion.
The Tactical Shift Sparks a Dramatic Rally
Faced with a mounting deficit, Saumur reshuffled its approach after the intermission, tightening its defensive posture and finding much-needed accuracy on the offensive end. The visitors steadily chipped away at the margin, trimming the deficit to 66-50 by the 27th minute and 70-58 at the end of the third quarter. Brown led the charge for Saumur with 23 points, while Sahun added 15 and Amegnaglo chipped in 10 to fuel the momentum change.
Late-Game Execution Secures Victory for Saint-Delphin
Carried by their renewed defensive intensity, Saumur completed an improbable turnaround by taking the lead at 72-63 in the 34th minute, stretching the advantage to 72-68 shortly after. Saint-Delphin managed to stabilize as the clock wound down, narrowing the gap until the score was 75-74 in the 38th minute. Despite the furious fourth-quarter push that yielded 19 points in the final period alone, Saumur failed to convert its final possessions as Saint-Delphin secured the win.
Quarter-by-Quarter Scoring Breakdown
The game statistics underline the stark contrast between the opening two quarters and the closing frame:
Halftime Score: Saint-Delphin 55, Saumur 32
First Quarter: 27-14
Second Quarter: 28-18
Third Quarter: 15-26
Fourth Quarter: 9-19
Saumur Player Statistics
Brown paced the Saumur offense with 23 points, supported by Sahun with 15 points and Amegnaglo with 10. Hanel contributed 9 points, Nyarko added 6, and Sieza finished with 5. Brizard, Blachier, and Naudin rounded out the scoresheet with 2 points apiece.
