Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade secured a dramatic 84-82 EuroLeague road victory over LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne on Tuesday, October 13, as Chris Jones delivered a game-winning midrange jumper at the buzzer against his former team.
Jones, who won the French championship with ASVEL in 2022, capped a back-and-forth contest by sinking the decisive shot with David Lighty defending him. The guard finished with eight points and nine assists, playing a crucial role in a victory that lifted Crvena Zvezda to 3-2 in the 2026-27 EuroLeague regular season.
Semi Ojeleye praised Jones for delivering when it mattered most. “Big time shot by Chris. Everybody did their part. Rebound, defend, whatever it is, and Chris ends up taking us home. That’s what his job is and that’s what he does best,” Ojeleye said.
Chima Moneke led Crvena Zvezda with 18 points, while Jordan Nwora added 17 and Ojeleye contributed 15. ASVEL received 19 points from Both Gach and 15 from Tremont Waters, but its efforts ultimately fell short.
Crvena Zvezda entered the matchup without natural centers Johnathan Motley and Ebuka Izundu, both unavailable because of injuries. Despite the depleted frontcourt, Ibon Navarro’s team found a way to secure a valuable win on the road.
The visitors started strongly, taking a 26-23 first-quarter lead behind Moneke’s three-point shooting. However, eight turnovers in the second quarter allowed ASVEL to seize momentum and move ahead 46-42 at halftime.
Crvena Zvezda responded impressively after the break. After committing 12 turnovers in the first half, the Serbian side finished the game with 12, recording no turnovers in the second half while distributing 16 assists over the final two quarters.
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ASVEL still held a 67-66 advantage entering the fourth quarter and appeared well positioned to close out the game when Joel Bolomboy extended the lead to 77-72 with approximately four minutes remaining.
Nwora then helped Crvena Zvezda fight back, putting the visitors ahead 82-80 before Bolomboy tied the score again. Waters missed an opportunity to restore ASVEL’s lead with eight seconds left, leaving Jones to decide the game with his final possession.
The result improved Crvena Zvezda’s record to 3-2, while ASVEL dropped to 2-3 after letting a home victory slip away.
Crvena Zvezda will host Paris Basketball on Friday, while ASVEL travels to face Real Madrid on Thursday.
