Harrath Guides Angers to Upset Over League Leaders Saint-Vallier
Yanis Harrath delivered a masterclass, dropping 29 points and dishing out 8 assists, to propel Angers to a stunning 99-95 victory over the Poule B leaders, Saint-Vallier. After trailing by five at halftime (47-52), Angers mounted a dramatic comeback, outscoring their opponents 31-18 in the third quarter to enter the final period with an eight-point advantage (78-70). This surge was fuelled by sharp shooting, with Angers converting 54% of their field goals (39/72), though a meagre 52% from the free-throw line (11/21) could have been costly. The Angers bench also provided a significant boost with 25 points, contrasting with Saint-Vallier's 45 bench points. Victor Manuel Serrano Marivela added 19 points off the bench, while Dalil Hadi completed a double-double with 16 points and 11 assists, complemented by 4 steals. Despite Sasha Derradji's 24 points and 10 assists, and Olivier Yao-Delon's 24 points, Saint-Vallier couldn't close the gap. This loss keeps Saint-Vallier atop the standings, but Angers solidifies their 9th position, inching closer to qualification.
Angers dominated play with 25 assists against just 9 turnovers, while Saint-Vallier struggled with ball security, committing 12 turnovers. Rebounding was tight, with Saint-Vallier holding a slight 39-37 edge.
This crucial win puts Angers in a strong position for the remainder of the regular season, while Saint-Vallier will need to regroup to maintain their top spot.