Hifi's Masterclass Seals Paris Victory Over Le Mans
Nadir Hifi delivered a masterful offensive display, dropping 33 points and dishing out 9 assists to steer Paris Basketball to an exhausting 103-101 road victory over Le Mans Sarthe Basket at Antarès.
The contest, a see-saw battle from tip-off, saw Paris hold a slim five-point lead at halftime (41-46), only for Le Mans to rally and enter the fourth quarter with a three-point advantage (74-71).
However, Paris, bolstered by 37 points from their bench, found another gear in the crucial final period. Despite Carlos Stewart's 29 points for Le Mans, who also added 4 rebounds and 2 assists, and Melvin Ajinca's 20 points, the home side's efforts ultimately fell short.
Paris, who finished shooting 52% from the field compared to Le Mans' 49% and held a 43-36 rebounding edge, secured the win in the closing moments. Tyson Etienne chipped in a vital 23 points off the bench for the victors.
This opening-night win puts both teams at 1-0 in the regular season standings.