Dijon sweeps ASVEL, qualifies for the Last 32

In an all-French showdown, JDA Dijon defeated ASVEL Lyon Villeurbanne for the second time in its Eurocup debut campaign, and with this 75-58 victory a Eurocup newcomer sealed its place in the Last 32. Dijon improved to 5-2, and with a season sweep of ASVEL, combined with wins over Telenet Ostend and FoxTown Cantu, cannot finish worse than fourth in Group B. Meanwhile, ASVEL dropped to 3-4 record. The hosts made a charge in the second quarter, using four consecutive triples to build a double-digit halftime lead. ASVEL rallied in the third, closing within 50-46, but never closer as Dijon went on a 22-7 spurt that bridged the third and fourth quarters, paving the way to victory. Steven Gray hit 4 of 7 from downtown on his way to game-high 20 points. Antoine Mendy had 13 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals, while Zach Moss fought for 12 points and 6 boards in victory. Ahmad Nivins had 14 points and 7 rebounds for ASVEL, while Taurean Green and Amara Sy contributed with 8 points apiece.

Six points from Sy and triples from each Green and David Andersen got ASVEL to 8-14 lead, and Nivins joined in to extend it to 11-18. Aldo Curti and Kris Joseph were the early scorers for the hosts, and a layup from Fredinand Prenom helped cut the deficit to 17-20 after 10 minutes. After Joseph and Travis Bader traded triples in the second quarter for 22-27, a pair of three-pointers from Erving Walker gave Dijon 30-29 advantage. Mendy and Gray continued the hosts’ onslaught from downtown, before each had a put-back in the last 2 minutes of the quarter, too. It helped Dijon finish the quarter with a 15-2 run for 42-31 halftime lead.

Edwin Jackson and Green cut it to 44-37 at the start of the third, but Dijon used trips to the foul line from Gray and Walker to stay in front, 50-39. Nivins strung together 6 points during a 0-7 run, getting ASVEL within 4 points, but Gray sank a three-pointer, and Curti assisted Moss for a bucket inside as the hosts went into the final quarter up 56-46. In the fourth, Moss and Mendy combined to score 8 points, including a put-back each, for 66-51, before three-pointers from Gray and Andre Harris made it 72-53 with two and a half minutes left to play, sealing the deal.