Antibes beat Rouen 80:78 in the Coupe de France on Tuesday evening. The hosts held on for a one-point victory after a close contest that went down to the final exchanges. We had given Rouen the edge at 55 per cent confidence, but the match took a different turn.
Antibes came into the fixture having lost their last outing 74:85 against AS Monaco, while Rouen had won their previous game 93:83 over Nanterre 92. Both sides had shown mixed form over the last five fixtures, which made for an unpredictable encounter.
By then the game was tighter than the scoreline suggested. Rouen pushed back after Antibes had built a small lead, and the momentum shifted several times through the second half. And here's the thing — it was never really in doubt until the final minutes.
Rouen had won four of their last five matches before this defeat, including a 73:71 victory over Lyon-Villeurbanne. Antibes had lost two of their last five, most notably the heavy 81:108 result against Nantes back in May. The contrast in recent runs didn't show up clearly on the scoreboard.
To be fair, the margin tells only part of the story. A one-point win after such a competitive game suggests either side could have taken the result. The hosts have now turned their recent inconsistency into a result that keeps them in contention.
For Rouen the loss breaks a four-game winning streak and leaves them searching for answers. Antibes take the win and move forward with momentum, even if the performance wasn't flawless.
