La Rochelle beats Denain as Antibes takes top spot in Élite 2

Twenty-four turnovers and fifteen assists proved to be the undoing for Denain on Friday night, as the league leaders surrendered both the game and their top spot in the ÉLITE 2 standings for the first time this season. Playing away at La Rochelle at Salle Gaston Neveur, the northern club fell 85-73 to the division’s bottom-placed side, compounding a difficult week that already included a 93-73 French Cup elimination against Blois on Monday, November 2.

La Rochelle Defends Home Court Behind Gilyard’s 28 Points

The home side established tone and tempo right from the opening tip. La Rochelle jumped to a 12-4 lead within the first two minutes and clamped down defensively to concede just 12 points in the opening period, building a 27-12 advantage after ten minutes. Cherif Haidara marked his 100th appearance in the club’s colors by anchoring a defense that repeatedly shut down Denain’s penetration into the paint.

Denain mounted several rallies, narrowing the deficit to eight points at 58-50 in the third quarter and again at 70-62 with five minutes remaining. Each time, however, La Rochelle responded. Evan Gilyard II delivered a deep three-pointer late in the contest to restore a twelve-point cushion at 74-62. Gilyard finished with 28 points, shooting five of six from beyond the arc alongside six assists for a 32 efficiency rating, earning player of the match honors. Babacar Mbye noted after the final buzzer that the team executed eight defensive stops sequences—referred to as “kills”—to keep Denain below 80 points.

Thomas Andrieux acknowledged the demanding travel schedule following Monday’s cup fixture in Blois, though he declined to use it as an excuse for his young squad’s execution errors. Gaétan Meyniel pointed to the defensive impact of Seydou Ndiaye on both ends of the floor as a key factor in keeping the visitors at bay.

Antibes Claims First Place as Sharks Win in Poitiers

Capitalizing on Denain’s stumble, Antibes seized sole possession of the ÉLITE 2 summit by edging Poitiers 91-90 on the road. Despite a 33-point performance from Keaston Willis, the Sharks secured the narrow victory behind Marcus Williams’ 24 points and Zeljko Sakic’s near triple-double of 10 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists. The result lifts JD Jackson’s squad to the top of the league table heading into the next round of fixtures.

La Rochelle vs Denain | Pro B 26/27 – Round 8

Laurent Vila Begins Tenure with Orléans Victory at Le Havre

Orléans delivered a successful debut for Laurent Vila, holding off Le Havre 95-92 on the road. Vila, who was appointed on Tuesday, November 3, to succeed Lamine Kébé and interim coach Pierre Tillay, utilized an eleven-man rotation to manage early foul trouble. Badr Moujib led the visitors with 20 points and 10 rebounds, Arthur Bruyas added 15 points, and Ludovic Negrobar contributed 14 points and nine rebounds.