Reggio Emilia rolls over Le Mans

Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia remained undefeated at home this season by beating Le Mans Sarthe Basket 93-82 on Tuesday to improve to 3-1 in Group B. Amedeo Della Vale led a balanced attack with 20 points, Achille Polonara posted 14 points and 10 rebounds and Stefano Gentile tallied 13 points and 6 assists for the victors. The first half saw several lead swings with Le Mans leading by as many as 8 points. But Della Vale hit a pair of threes and Gentile another in a 9-0 run to finish the first half ahead 46-41 and Reggio Emilia never looked back. The lead grew to 19 in the fourth quarter as Reggio Emilia cruised to victory. Darjus Lavrinovic totaled 12 points and Vladimir Veremeenko scored 11 on perfect shooting for the winners. Mickael Gelabale and Damion James scored 14 points apiece for Le Mans, Chris Lofton scored 13, Roberto Dozier 11 and Pape-Philippe Amagou 10. The loss dropped Le Mans to 1-3.

Lavrinovic opened the scoring for Reggio Emilia before Amagou got Le Mans on the scoreboard. Ojars Silins nailed a triple to push the hosts’ lead to 7-2. Le Mans reeled off 9 unanswered points – 4 of them from Gelabale – to storm ahead 9-13. Reggio Emilia turned things around with a 10-0 charge in which Pietro Aradori scored half the points. Gelabale free throws and Tywain McKee’s jumper closed the gap to 23-22 after 10 minutes. Le Mans continued its run, scoring the first 9 points of the second quarter. James scored the go-ahead basket at the start of the quarter. A Lahaou Konate triple gave Le Mans its biggest lead, 30-38. Della Vale’s three-point play helped Reggio Emilia get going again. Della Vale later sandwiched a pair of triple around another by Gentile to finish the first half with 9 unanswered points for a 46-41 halftime advantage.

A Gentile jumper and a Della Vale three boosted the Reggio Emilia lead to double figures. Dozier and Gelabale led Le Mans back to within 4. The teams traded baskets for much of the third quarter, however with Silins hitting a pair of threes and Della Vale another, the home team extended the difference. Then Polonara scored the next 5 points to make it 69-55. Andrea De Nicolao’s three ended the third quarter with the hosts up 72-57. James opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer, but Lavrinovic and Polonara pushed the advantage to 16. The lead ultimately peaked at 82-63 midway through the quarter. Lofton helped Le Mans cut into the deficit late, but the outcome was never in doubt as Reggio Emilia cruised to victory.