Bacon helps Monaco escape Le Mans, secure second place in LNB regular season / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Roca Team-Direction de la Communication / Manuel Vitali Credit Roca Team-Direction de la Communication / Manuel Vitali

AS Monaco (23-8) had a hard time, before beating Le Mans (16-16) on the road 84-83 (19-16, 20-14, 22-19, 23-24) and secure second place in the LNB standings, ahead of third-placed (23-9) Boulogne-Levallois and behind leaders LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (24-8).

Free throws this season

75%13,8Points made:13,8Accuracy:75,2%Place in standings:4Record max:21Record min:4Most made FTs:Mike JamesTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Monaco showed up without their star player Mike James and center Donta Hall. However, Yakuba Ouattara poured in 12 points in 7 minutes to lead the Monegasques offensively.

Thanks to TaShawn Thomas, Le Mans returned to the locker room with a small lead (40-39), amidst a misfire from both sides, as the hosts went 1/7 from behind the three-point line and Monaco were 0/6.

Donatas Motiejunas' domination in the paint counterbalanced Darius Johnson-Odom's great third quarter. The American guard, who led all scorers with 25 points, ignited Le Mans' offense, keeping his side within reach until the end.

Le Mans even took the lead (78-77, with three minutes left). Dwayne Bacon gave his team a 3-point lead (78-81) with 40 seconds to go, before sinking a pair of free-throws that sealed the outcome.

Bacon scored 17 points overall, leading the way for the guests. Donatas Motiejunas and Yakuba Ouattara followed with 16 and 15, respectively.

Le Mans: Darius Johson-Odom 25 (9/15 FG, 4/5 FT), Dante Cunnigham 16 (6/12 FG, 4/4 FT), TaShawn Thomas 8 (5 REB, 4 AST).

AS Monaco: Dwayne Bacon 17 (5/11 FG, 7/9 FT, 6 REB), Donatas Motiejunas 16 (5/7 FG, 5/5 FT, 4 REB), Yakuba Ouattara 15 (5/7 FG, 4/4 FT, 5 REB), Paris Lee 9 (2/7 FG, 4/4 FT).

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