Hifi's 33 break Le Mans: 101-103 at Antarès

23:42. That is how long Le Mans led here — 23 minutes and 42 seconds in front, a lead that grew to 14, and it bought them nothing. Paris Basketball walked out of Antarès with a 101-103 win, decided down the stretch by the man who did the most damage all night.

Le Mans set the tone: 21-17 after the first quarter, then a burst of 17 points in a row, the biggest run either side managed. Paris answered with 29 in the second quarter to nose ahead, Le Mans reclaimed the third 33-25 to lead 74-71, and still nothing was safe — the lead changed hands 15 times, Paris never led by more than 8, and every home push got an answer.

The closing stretch was a sprint. Melvin Ajinca edged the hosts to 96-93. Carlos Stewart's three made it 99-95. Nadir Hifi answered inside at 99-97, Tyson Etienne's three flipped the game to 99-100, and Lucas Dufeal briefly put Le Mans back on top at 101-100. Then Hifi, again, from deep: 101-103, with no reply.

Hifi finished with 33 points and 9 assists on 58% shooting, a plus-17 in a two-point game. Stewart's 29 kept the hosts alive and Ajinca added 20, and Le Mans even won the care-of-the-ball battle — 8 turnovers to 11, 6 steals to 3. None of it mattered where it counted. Terry Tarpey (9 points, 10 rebounds) and Allan Dokossi (9 and 7) fed the glass edge.

Le Mans ran, pressed and led all night. Paris simply took the rebounds — then took the game.