The second tier of French men’s basketball, ELITE 2, returned to action on Friday, September 25, 2026, delivering an opening night defined by road success and dramatic finishes. Four visiting teams claimed victories away from home, while Le Havre established itself at the top of the early season standings following a 13-point victory over the SCABB.
Le Havre opened its campaign in the division following an eight-year absence, securing a 90-77 win over the SCABB. Head coach Julien Cortey attributed the opponents’ struggles to a collective delay in execution. Despite a slow start that saw the team fall behind 8-15 in the seventh minute, Le Havre’s roster—overseen by Lauriane Dolt—steadied itself to secure the comfortable margin. Guard Ajare Sanni, a central figure in the club’s promotion to ELITE 2, led all scorers with 34 points on 11-of-24 shooting, including 6-of-13 from 3-point range, alongside 6-of-6 free throws, two rebounds, two assists, and three interceptions for a 25 performance valuation in 29 minutes of play.
Fellow promoted side Levallois also celebrated a successful return, edging Quimper 79-77 on the road. The squad benefited from strong performances across the floor: Kezza Giffa contributed 17 points and five assists, Clifton Moore posted 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Kane Milling added 18 points and seven rebounds. Defensively, Levallois stifled Quimper to 3-of-16 shooting from beyond the arc in the first half. In a tense closing minute, Tom Digbeu leveled the score at 77-77 with 33 seconds remaining before converting the game-winning dunk.
Elsewhere on opening night, Stade Rochelais fended off a late surge from Alliance Sport Alsace to win 95-88. Guided by Sasha Derradji—who finished with 20 points, six rebounds, and 11 assists—Germain Castano’s team raced to a 33-20 lead after the first quarter and expanded the margin to 23 points midway through the third period. Alliance Sport Alsace rallied behind Allan Jeanne-Rose, who tallied 21 points and 13 rebounds, seizing an 85-83 lead late in the contest. However, fatigue caught up with the visitors down the stretch, allowing Derradji to steady Stade Rochelais and seal the victory.
Caen and Vichy both required extra time to secure their opening wins. Caen overcame Aix-Maurienne 95-91 after regulation ended in an 81-81 deadlock. Lee Moore chipped in 16 points and eight assists, while Tyler Thomas added 19 points for Jean-Baptiste Lecrosnier’s side. Leo DeBruhl scored nine points, providing the decisive spark in the extra session. Meanwhile, Vichy erased a 10-point deficit against Rouen, forcing overtime on a 3-point basket by Nolan Kingue, who finished with 11 points. Ray’Sean Taylor led Vichy with 27 points in a 101-97 victory that saw Akram Naji miss two late free throws for Rouen at the end of regulation.
In Denain, the home side defeated ADA Blois 87-76. Despite dropping the opening period 24-19, Denain dominated the second quarter 30-12. Lien Phillip and Gaétan Meyniel each scored 16 points, with Meyniel adding six assists, while Olivier Cortale grabbed 11 rebounds and scored 11 points to anchor the interior. David Coit paced Blois with 17 points, but the visitors were unable to recover. In other road action, Évreux defeated Poitiers 86-80, taking advantage of a Poitiers lineup playing without its primary preseason scorer, Keaston Willis, who was absent on paternity leave.
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