SIG Strasbourg secured a victory against Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball, overcoming a deficit to claim a win on the road. Jaylen Hands led the Alsace club’s offense alongside Neftali Difuidi, handing head coach Jānis Gailītis a vital result in front of 3,200 spectators after recent defeats in domestic and European competition.
High-Scoring Opening Quarter Establishes Saint-Quentin Momentum
The hosts opened the contest with blistering offensive efficiency, capitalizing on early Strasbourg fouls. Neftali Difuidi quickly established himself for the visitors, opening the scoring and later converting a fast-break dunk to keep Strasbourg within striking distance. However, Saint-Quentin guard Karvel Anderson fired on all cylinders from the perimeter, fueling a stretch where the home side maintained a 100% shooting clip through the first five minutes. A three-pointer from Gravilovic capped the opening frame, handing Saint-Quentin a 33-24 advantage after ten minutes of play.
Jaylen Hands Sparks Second-Quarter Strasbourg Resurgence
Strasbourg faced further adversity early in the second period as the deficit stretched to 38-26, prompting an immediate timeout from coach Jānis Gailītis. Difuidi answered from beyond the arc, while Maxence Lemoine and Tymu Chenery attacked the paint to narrow the gap. Saint-Quentin responded through Axel Toupane and Ousmane Krubally, forcing visiting defenders into foul trouble and building a 52-47 cushion by halftime. The period concluded with a deep buzzer-beater from Jaylen Hands, cutting the home lead to five points at the break.
Third-Quarter Momentum Shift Propels Strasbourg Ahead
The visiting side emerged from the locker room with a decisive 10-0 run to seize control of the tempo. Ben Gregg and Sam Alajiki struck quickly from deep and in transition, before Hands drained a perimeter shot to give Strasbourg their first lead of the evening at 55-52. Difuidi added another corner triple to push his personal tally to 18 points, completing a sequence that forced Saint-Quentin to regroup. Despite a subsequent three-pointer from Erick Neal, Strasbourg maintained parity, ending a frantic third period deadlocked at 73-73.
Clutch Free-Throw Shooting Secures Victory in Final Minutes
The fourth quarter featured continuous lead changes as Anderson reached 30 points for Saint-Quentin, igniting the Pierre-Ratte crowd. Hands answered immediately with crucial perimeter shooting to keep Strasbourg ahead in an intense money-time period. With the hosts entering the penalty early, the visitors converted key free throws down the stretch. A decisive offensive rebound and subsequent free throws from Alajiki with seconds remaining sealed the 98-94 final scoreline.
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