In a hard-fought encounter at the Palais des Sports de Beaublanc, Limoges CSP secured a crucial 80–72 victory over local rivals Boulazac in the Ligue Nationale de Basket Pro A on May 8, 2026. The win bolstered Limoges’ push for a top‑six finish, while Boulazac’s postseason hopes took a significant blow.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, Limoges set the tempo behind a disciplined defensive scheme that limited Boulazac’s perimeter shooting. The home side jumped to an early 22–15 lead after the first quarter, capitalising on fast‑break opportunities and second‑chance points. Boulazac responded in the second period, narrowing the deficit to 40–38 at halftime behind a 12‑point effort from guard Mathieu Wojciechowski.

The third quarter proved decisive. Limoges’ frontcourt duo of Hugo Invernizzi and veteran centre Ali Traoré imposed their will in the paint, combining for 16 points in the period. A 10–2 run early in the fourth quarter stretched the lead to 14 points, and despite a late flurry from Boulazac’s Wilfried Yeguete, the visitors never got closer than six points in the final minutes.

Key Moments

• First‑quarter explosion: Limoges shot 6‑of‑9 from three‑point range in the opening period, with Nicolas Lang connecting twice from deep.
• Second‑quarter rally: Boulazac’s zone defence forced three turnovers in a span of two minutes, sparking a 9‑0 run that erased a 12‑point deficit.
• Third‑quarter lockdown: Limoges held Boulazac to just 14 points in the third quarter while shooting 58% from the floor themselves.
• Clutch free throws: With 1:20 remaining, Limoges point guard DeAndre Jones calmly sank four consecutive free throws to ice the game.

Standout Players

Home side: Ali Traoré finished with 18 points and 9 rebounds, dominating the glass on both ends. Nicolas Lang added 16 points and 4 assists, while DeAndre Jones orchestrated the offence with 8 assists and 12 points.

Away side: Mathieu Wojciechowski led all scorers with 22 points on 9‑of‑15 shooting, but received limited support from his teammates. Wilfried Yeguete contributed 12 points and 7 rebounds, but Boulazac’s bench was outscored 28–12.

Impact on the Standings

With the victory, Limoges improved to a 22–14 record, moving into a tie for fourth place with Nanterre 92. The team now holds a one‑game lead over Cholet for the final home‑court advantage spot in the playoffs. For Boulazac, the loss dropped them to 17–19, leaving them two games behind the eighth‑place playoff berth with only three regular‑season games remaining. The result puts significant pressure on head coach Alexandre Ménard’s squad to win their remaining fixtures.

Limoges will look to build momentum in their next outing against ASVEL Lyon‑Villeurbanne, while Boulazac faces a must‑win home contest against Le Mans Sarthe.