Gran Canaria holds on for season-opening win at Le Mans

Herbalife Gran Canaria Las Palmas held off a late Le Mans Sarthe Basket charge to take a 74-79 road win in the teams’ Eurocup season opener. Gran Canaria led 38-43 at halftime and remained on top for much of the second half until Petr Cornelie and Jason Wetrol rallied Le Mans with an 8-0 charge to lead 73-71. But Eulis Baez saved Gran Canaria with a clutch offensive rebound, basket and foul before Kevin Pangos and Sasu Salin iced the game from the line. Baez paced the winners with 13 points and 8 rebounds. Alen Omic posted 11 points and 9 rebounds, Kyle Kuric also scored 11 and Pangos, Salin and Sitapha Savane scored 10 points apiece. Cornelie shot 5 for 5 from downtown en route to 17 points for Le Mans. Twain McKee also scored 17 and dished 6 assists, Mickael Gelabale added 13 points and Mouphtaou Yarou 11.

Baskets by Brad Newley and Omic got Gran Canaria’s season started on the right foot, however Le Mans responded with four baskets from four different players to take an 8-4 advantage. Omic evened the score with a three-point play, but McKee did the same to make it 15-10. Yarou and Gelabale with a three-pointer increased the difference to 24-18. Pablo Aguilar’s three-pointer and a Xavi Rabaseda free throw brought Gran Canaria within24-22 after 10 minutes. Albert Oliver made an impact in the second half with an assist to Aguilar and a jumper of his own to cap a 0-10 run that bridged the quarters. Lahaou Konate responded with a three to make it 29-28. It was still a 1-point game after a McKenn triple midway through the quarter. Salin scored 5 and capped a 0-9 run for a 33-41 advantage. A Yarou tip-in helped Le Mans close to within 38-43 at halftime.

McKee had Le Mans within 1 in the first minute of the second half. Baez scored twice to give Gran Canaria some breathing room. Kuric soon came alive with 5 straight points before Salin gave the visitors their first double-digit lead, 49-60. Cornelie’s second three of the quarter narrowed the gap to 54-62 through three quarters. After Gelabale made it a 6-point game, Kuric connected on his third three-pointer. However Cornelie made another three and McKee scored to make it 61-65. Baez and an Omic put-back gave Gran Canarias some breathing room, but Le Mans kept coming. Wetrol missed twice from the line, but made up for that with an offensive rebound and Cornelie sank a triple to close to within 68-71. Westrol made it a 1-point game and then found Cornelie for a go-ahead triple, 73-71. Salin split free throws, buy Baez collected the offensive rebound, scored and drew a foul for a 73-75 lead with less than half a minute remaining. Yarou then missed a chance to tie it when he split free throws. Pangos sank 2 from the line for a 74-77 advantage and after Baez rejected Gelabale, Salin iced the game from the line.