LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne secured an 91–88 road victory over Anadolu Efes Istanbul on Friday, March 6, at the Turkcell Basketball Development Center, extending its recent success against the Turkish club despite remaining at the bottom of the EuroLeague standings.
The French side improved to 8–22 in the 2025–26 EuroLeague season and recorded its second road win after opening the campaign with 11 consecutive away losses. Anadolu Efes dropped to 9–21, deepening its struggles near the bottom of the table.
Braian Angola delivered the most productive performance of his EuroLeague career, scoring 26 points in his seventh appearance in the competition. The Colombian guard converted 4 of 7 two-point attempts, hit three three-pointers, and went 9 of 11 from the free-throw line.
ASVEL built an early cushion by opening a 12-point lead in the first quarter behind Zac Seljaas and Armel Traore. The hosts responded once Saben Lee entered late in the period, increasing defensive pressure and attacking the paint.
Efes eventually moved in front 42–40 after a pair of three-pointers from Rolands Smits and continued scoring from Lee. However, Thomas Heurtel shifted the momentum before halftime by knocking down two three-pointers, including one at the buzzer that gave the visitors a 49–47 lead.
The second half featured frequent turnovers as both teams struggled to control possession. The clubs combined for 35 turnovers overall, including 12 in the third quarter alone.
Despite the mistakes, ASVEL maintained the lead through efficient perimeter shooting and second-chance opportunities. Angola extended the margin to eight points early in the fourth quarter with a three-pointer, and Glynn Watson followed with back-to-back triples that pushed the score to 83–76.
Efes mounted a late push behind Sehmus Hazer, who finished with a career-high 20 points. The Turkish guard scored eight points in the final 2:20, cutting the deficit to one possession after consecutive three-pointers.
ASVEL did not score a field goal during the final stretch but preserved the lead through defense and free throws. Veteran forward David Lighty forced an offensive foul on Lee during a critical possession, and Angola converted from the free-throw line to secure the victory.
ASVEL also created extra possessions with an 11–5 advantage in offensive rebounds and shot 87.5 percent from the foul line. Zac Seljaas added 15 points, while Heurtel contributed 14 points and seven assists.
Saben Lee led Efes with 18 points and four assists, while Smits added 12 points and Kenneth Jones collected seven points and seven rebounds.
The win completed a season sweep for ASVEL over Efes and marked the French club’s fifth consecutive victory in the head-to-head matchup.
ASVEL will face Paris Basketball on the road next Thursday, while Anadolu Efes travels to play FC Bayern Munich on the same day.
