Chorale Roanne Hold Off Boulazac in 81-79 LNB Pro A Road Thriller

Chorale Roanne Basket escaped with an 81-79 victory over Boulazac Basket Dordogne in a tense LNB Pro A matchup on September 27, 2026, at Le Colisée. The visitors led for long stretches, survived a late Boulazac surge, and secured a two-point road win that could carry real weight in the early-season standings.

Final score: Boulazac 79, Chorale Roanne 81.

Match overview

Roanne started with purpose, building a 22-17 lead after the first quarter behind crisp ball movement and early three-point shooting. Boulazac responded in the second period, using its inside presence to trim the deficit, but the visitors still took a 40-38 advantage into halftime.

The third quarter remained tight, with neither team able to create real separation. Roanne edged the period 20-19 to lead 60-57 heading into the final ten minutes. Boulazac then produced its best stretch of the game, tying the score at 74-74 with just over four minutes remaining, but Roanne found the answers at both ends down the stretch to close out the 81-79 win.

Key moments

• Roanne opened the game with a 10-4 run, setting the tone with aggressive perimeter defense.
• Boulazac cut the lead to one early in the third quarter, but Roanne answered with back-to-back three-pointers.
• With the score tied at 74-74, Roanne went on a 7-2 run capped by a contested mid-range jumper.
• Boulazac had a chance to win at the buzzer, but a heavily contested three-point attempt rimmed out.
• Roanne sealed the result with two free throws in the final seconds.

Tactical story

Roanne’s switching defense disrupted Boulazac’s half-court rhythm for much of the night. The visitors forced 15 turnovers and turned those mistakes into 18 points, a margin that proved decisive in such a close game. Offensively, Roanne spaced the floor well and generated open looks from beyond the arc, finishing with 11 three-pointers.

Boulazac won the rebounding battle and scored consistently in the paint, but its outside shooting deserted it in the fourth quarter. The home side went just 2-of-9 from three-point range in the final period and missed several second-chance opportunities that could have changed the outcome.

Standout players

• Mathis Keita (Chorale Roanne): 19 points, 5 assists, 3 steals. Keita controlled the tempo and made key plays in the fourth quarter.
• Kyle Foster (Chorale Roanne): 17 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer and two clutch free throws.
• Théo Lefebvre (Boulazac): 22 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists. Lefebvre kept Boulazac in the game with timely shot-making.
• Ibrahima Fall (Boulazac): 16 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks. Fall was a force inside but fouled out late.

Standings and season impact

The win gives Chorale Roanne valuable momentum in the LNB Pro A, also known as Betclic Élite, and reinforces their reputation as a tough road team. For Boulazac, the narrow home loss is a frustrating result, especially after battling back to tie the game late. In a league where head-to-head point differential can decide tiebreakers, the two-point margin may matter when the standings are settled later in the season.