Chalon/Son secured a 79:72 victory over Manchester Giants in the FIBA Europe Cup on Wednesday evening. The French side held firm against the visitors despite a spirited effort from the English club. It was a tight contest that went to the wire.
Manchester Giants arrived in France having lost their last two outings. They fell 64:73 to Liverpool and 58:76 to Bristol Flyers in recent weeks. The hosts, meanwhile, had shown resilience with an 82:74 win over Limoges before that defeat to Bourg-en-Bresse.
The match itself was a battle of momentum. Chalon/Son found a way through in the closing stages to seal the result. Manchester Giants refused to go away and pushed hard, but the visitors could not find the equaliser they needed.
By then, the French side had settled into their rhythm. They have the deeper squad and used it to manage the game's tempo. Manchester Giants have hit a wall recently, and this result added to their growing concerns.
The win moves Chalon/Son further ahead in the standings. Manchester Giants now face questions about their direction after three defeats in four games. The gap between them in the table is starting to widen.
