London Lions Succumb to Gut-Wrenching 77-64 Defeat Against Villeneuve d'Ascq in Game Two. Lose Aggregate Series 148 – 141 and are Knocked Out of the FIBA EuroCup Playoffs.
Unfortunately, the London Lions were knocked out of FIBA EuroCup Playoffs by French rivals Villeneuve d'Ascq after losing 77-64 in Game Two and 148 – 141 on aggregate. The Lions had to fight an uphill battle from the beginning of the game after going down 12-1. However, the Lion-hearted squad battled their way back into the game, closing the gap to 1 point with 1:38 left on the clock in the first quarter.
Although London lost the opening period 25-22, they took the momentum they built late in the first into the second. London scored 17 points but stagnated ESBVA’s offence to 11, snatching the lead 38-39 going into halftime.
The slug fight continued into the third quarter, with the Northern France-based team edging out the Lions 16-14 to take back the lead, 54-53 by the end of the period. The Lions let their third-period 4-point lead evaporate with 01:39 left on the clock in the third, conceding an energy-seizing triple and then a driving layup in the dying seconds.
With the two-game series being purely a numbers game, Villeneuve d'Ascq’s knew they had to put some distance between themselves and the Lions, as a one-point victory would still give London the overall win. ESBVA proceeded to lockdown London’s offence, forcing the Lions into four turnovers and eight missed during the period. As a result, the Londoners were only able to score 11 points.
On the other hand, Villeneuve's offence flowed better than it had in previous quarters to the tune of 23 points. ESBVA led most of the fourth period, with the Lions only being able to tie the score once, 56-56, early in the period.