Saint-Quentin 85 – 88 Le Mans | LNB Pro A | May 10, 2026

Le Mans survived a tense fourth-quarter battle to snatch an 88–85 road victory over Saint-Quentin at the Palais des Sports Pierre Ratte on Saturday night. The visitors led 70–65 heading into the final frame, but a furious rally from the home side made for a dramatic finish before Le Mans held their nerve at the free‑throw line to secure the win.

Match Overview

Both teams traded blows early, with Saint-Quentin’s fast‑break offense and Le Mans’ disciplined half‑court sets keeping the scoreboard tight. Le Mans, fueled by a balanced scoring attack, took a 44–42 lead at halftime. The third quarter saw the visitors open up a nine‑point gap, only for Saint-Quentin to chip away behind aggressive drives and offensive rebounds.

Key Moments

• Third‑quarter surge: Le Mans went on a 14–4 run early in the period, capped by a transition three‑pointer that forced a Saint-Quentin timeout.
• Home rally: Trailing 78–71 with four minutes left, Saint-Quentin rattled off eight straight points to tie the game at 79–79.
• Clutch free throws: Le Mans converted 6 of 8 free throws in the final 90 seconds, while Saint-Quentin missed two critical attempts from the stripe that could have changed the outcome.

Standout Players

• Austin Williams (Le Mans): The American guard posted 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, leading all scorers and steadying the team down the stretch.
• Mamadou Ndiaye (Saint-Quentin): The Senegalese center dominated the interior with 18 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks, but his free‑throw struggles (2/6) proved costly.

Table Implications

The win lifts Le Mans into sixth place in the LNB Pro A standings with a 16–14 record, strengthening their playoff positioning. Saint-Quentin drops to 11–19, but their spirited performance suggests they can still cause trouble for higher‑seeded opponents in the remaining regular‑season games.

Le Mans will look to build on this momentum when they host Cholet next Saturday, while Saint-Quentin travel to league leaders Monaco in a crucial fixture.