Antibes Sharks secured a hard-fought 89-85 victory over Loyola-New Orleans in Ligue Nationale de Basket Pro B action at Azur Arena. The home side led early, survived a mid-game surge from the visitors, and used a decisive fourth-quarter run to close out an important win in the French second division.

Antibes’ ability to control the paint and convert second-chance opportunities proved decisive. Loyola-New Orleans kept the game close behind efficient guard play and timely three-point shooting, but the Sharks’ defense tightened in the final five minutes.

Match Overview

Antibes started with energy, racing to a 26-18 lead after the first quarter. Loyola-New Orleans responded in the second, using a 12-4 run to cut the deficit. The teams went into halftime with Antibes ahead 47-44.

• First quarter: Antibes 26, Loyola-New Orleans 18
• Second quarter: Antibes 21, Loyola-New Orleans 26
• Third quarter: Antibes 20, Loyola-New Orleans 24
• Fourth quarter: Antibes 22, Loyola-New Orleans 17
• Final score: Antibes 89, Loyola-New Orleans 85

The third quarter saw Loyola-New Orleans take a 68-67 lead behind back-to-back three-pointers and aggressive drives. Antibes answered with a 9-2 run early in the fourth and never surrendered the lead again.

Key Moments

• Loyola-New Orleans grabbed a 68-67 advantage late in the third quarter, its first lead since the opening minutes.
• Antibes responded with a 9-2 run to open the fourth, capped by a corner three and a fast-break dunk.
• In the final minute, Antibes made four consecutive free throws to keep Loyola-New Orleans at arm’s length.

Tactical Story

Antibes dominated inside, finishing with a 46-34 advantage in paint points. The Sharks also grabbed 13 offensive rebounds, leading to 15 second-chance points. Loyola-New Orleans stayed competitive by shooting 11-of-27 from three-point range, but Antibes’ length on the perimeter disrupted the visitors’ rhythm late.

Defensively, Antibes switched between man-to-man and a compact zone, forcing Loyola-New Orleans into contested jumpers. The visitors committed 15 turnovers, which Antibes converted into 19 points. That margin, combined with the rebounding edge, made the difference in a game decided by four points.

Standout Players

Antibes’ leading scorer finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds, controlling the game from the forward position. The Sharks’ point guard added 18 points, seven assists, and three steals, repeatedly breaking Loyola-New Orleans’ pressure. For the visitors, their shooting guard poured in 25 points, while their center contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort.

Pro B Standings Impact

The win strengthens Antibes’ position in the Ligue Nationale de Basket Pro B standings and keeps the Sharks in the mix for promotion to Betclic Elite. In a league where home victories are essential, this result protects Antibes’ home-court advantage and adds momentum to its season. Loyola-New Orleans leaves with a narrow defeat but showed enough offensive firepower to trouble opponents going forward.

What’s Next

Antibes will look to carry its fourth-quarter execution into the next Pro B fixture, while Loyola-New Orleans returns home aiming to turn a competitive road performance into a win.