It was a return to winning form for AS Monaco Basketball over the weekend as they claimed a well-deserved 96-84 victory over CSP Limoges at the French side’s packed home court, Palais des Sports de Beaublanc. The triumph came just two days after a bruising defeat to Real Madrid in the EuroLeague.
Led by a brilliant performance from Jordan Loyd, who notched 22 points with five three-pointers, the Roca Team took control of the game early. Monaco then weathered a spirited Limoges comeback in the second and third quarters before closing out the match with authority.
“We knew we had to respond tonight,” Loyd said after the game. “The loss in Madrid was tough to swallow, but we came into this one focused and ready. Everyone stepped up when it mattered.”
“Our mindset was clear,” added Vitto Brown, who contributed 15 points. “We wanted to come out aggressive and take control early. Even when they fought back, we stayed locked in.”
Monaco’s three-point shooting proved lethal in the first half, with the team hitting 10 shots from beyond the arc at 60% accuracy. By halftime, the Roca Team had built a 56-44 lead, thanks to Loyd’s scoring, Brown’s versatility, and Petr Cornelie’s dominance on the boards.
“We knew Limoges wouldn’t go down without a fight,” head coach Vassilis Spanoulis reflected. “But I was proud of how the team handled the pressure and stayed composed in key moments.”
Limoges came back strong after the break, capitalising on Monaco’s turnovers and foul trouble to cut the deficit to just four points (56-52) during an energised 24-8 stretch.
But the Monaco players regrouped, with contributions from Mam Jaiteh, Jaron Blossomgame, and Cornelie helping to shift momentum.
Monaco regained their shooting touch, with Cornelie and Loyd hitting clutch three-pointers to re-establish a 10-point cushion (71-61) heading into the final quarter.
“We had a rough patch, but we never panicked,” said Jaiteh, who finished with 14 points. “Coach reminded us to stick to the game plan, and once we tightened up defensively, the rest fell into place.”
A strong finish
The fourth quarter saw Monaco rediscover their rhythm. Matthew Strazel and Jaiteh led a balanced offensive effort, while Juhann Begarin’s three-pointer and a thunderous alley-oop from Georgios Papagiannis deflated Limoges’ hopes of a comeback.
“It was all about finishing strong,” said Strazel. “We’ve been in tough spots before, and this time we stayed calm and executed.”
In light of the recent defeat to Real Madrid, Spanoulis described the Limoges result as “an important win for us.”
“Not just in terms of standings but also mentally,” he noted. “It shows the character of this group.”
Coming up
The win solidifies AS Monaco Basketball’s position in the Betclic Elite Top 4 as they push for qualification to the Leaders Cup.
AS Monaco will return to EuroLeague action on Boxing Day when they host Anadolu Efes in what will be the team’s final game of 2024. The squad is optimistic about continuing their momentum, with Nick Calathes expected to return to the lineup.
“We’re building something special here,” Loyd said confidently. “This win is just another step in the right direction.”
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Photo source: AS Monaco Basketball